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WORD-BOOK 


OF 


VIRGINIA  FOLK-SPEECH 


BY 


B.   W.   GREEN. 


■■.'-.. 


RICHMOND: 

\VM.   ELLIS   JONES,   BOOK    AND   JOB    PRINTER. 
1899. 


86946 


Copyrighted,  1899,  by  B.  W.  Green. 


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•  .  •. 


•  •     •      . 

■ 

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•  » •  •  • 


.   .♦.•.• 


•    •     •    •• 

•    .  •  •      •  •■ 


»  *    • 


For  Keadi^q  Konm  <  >niy 

?E 
3\  01 

VS68 


TO 

VIRGINIA   PEOPLE 

BY 

ONE  OF   THEM. 


SOME  VIRGINIA  NAMES 


SPELT   ONE   WAY   AND   CALLED   ANOTHER. 


'3 


SPELT. 

CALLED. 

Anne, 

An'ne;  not  Annie, 

Armistead, 

Um'sted, 

Baird, 

Beard, 

Balfour, 

Bel'fur, 

Berkeley, 

Bark'ly,  Bart'let, 

Bernard, 

Bar'net, 

Bidgood, 

Bed'good, 

Blount, 

Blunt, 

Boothe, 

Bowthe, 

Boswell, 

Bos'ell, 

Botetourt, 

Bot'etot, 

Boulvvare, 

Bo'ler, 

Brockenbrough, 

Brok'enburro, 

Burwell, 

Bur'rel, 

Callowhill, 

Car'rol, 

Camp, 

Kemp, 

Capehart, 

Cap'hart, 

Carter, 

Cear'ter, 

Chamberlaine, 

Chaum'berlin, 

Chisman, 

Cheese'man, 

Chiswell, 

Chiss'ell, 

Cluverius, 

Cluviers, 

Contesse, 

Coun'tis, 

Crenshaw, 

Gran'ger, 

Daisy, 

Di'sy, 

Degge,  or  Degges, 

Diggs, 

14 


Some  Virginia  Names. 


spelt. 

Deneufville, 
Dewbery, 
Dinwiddie, 
Drewry, 

Elliott, 

Enroughty, 

Fauntleroy, 

Fauquier, 
Fontaine, 
Fourqurean, 
Fulgham, 

Gawin, 

Geddy, 

Gibson, 

Gilliam, 

Gloucester, 

Gooch, 

Goode, 

Goldsmith, 

Gower, 

Gravely, 

Hairston, 

Hartvvell, 

Harwood, 

Haughton,  Hawthorne, 

Hey  ward, 

I  [igginson, 

Hinde, 

Hobson, 

Hodsden, 

Ironmonger, 

James, 


CALLED. 

Don'evel, 
Dew'bre, 
Dinwood'dy, 
Dru'it, 

El'let, 

Dar'by, 

Fant'ilroy, 

Faw'keer, 
Foun'tain,  Fon'tin, 
Fur'cron, 
Full  j  um, 

Go'in, 

Gad'dy, 

Gip'son, 

Gil'lum, 

Glaw'ster, 

Gouge, 

Gude, 

Gould'smith, 

Gore, 

Grav'elly, 

Hars'ton, 

Heart'well, 

Hor'rod, 

Hor'ton, 

How'ard, 

Hick'erson, 

Hines, 

Hop'son, 

Hodg'den, 

Mun'ger, 

Jeames, 


FOREWORDS. 


There  is  no  trouble  in  tracing  Virginians  either  by  their  blood 
or  speech.     They  are  English  in  both. 

The  English  when  they  came  from  the  low-country  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Elbe,  landed  on  the  eastern  and  southern  coast  of 
what  is  now  England,  and  made  good  their  footing  by  gaining 
the  ground  slowly  by  fighting. 

Wessex,  one  of  the  Saxon  kingdoms  in  England,  became  the 
kingdom  of  England.  The  kingdom  from  the  coast  of  Hamp- 
shire spread  north  and  west  to  Berkshire,  Wiltshire,  and  Dor- 
setshire. The  Thames  and  the  Avon  became  the  permanent 
boundaries  of  Wessex  to  the  north,  and  the  later  extension  of 
the  West  Saxon  Dominion  was  wholly  westward.  Wessex  ob- 
tained the  overlordship  in  Britain  in  the  ninth  century,  and  in  the 
times  of  Alfred's  successors  developed  into  the  kingdom  of  Eng- 
land, Wessex  grew  into  England  in  the  end.  The  king  of  the 
West-Saxons  grew  into  the  king  of  the  English,  the  Emperor  of 
all  Britain. 

The  language  of  Alfred  is  to  be  found  in  the  present  rustic 
speech  of  Wiltshire,  Somersetshire,  Dorset,  Gloucester,  and 
western  Hampshire;  and  these  with  the  Devonshire  dialect  be- 
yond them  to  the  westward,  are  the  descendents  of  the  early 
southern  English,  which  at  one  time  was  the  literary  or  classical 
form  of  speech.  From  the  time  of  Alfred  or  earlier,  until  after 
the  Norman  conquest,  for  a  period  of  some  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years,  the  West-Saxon  English  was  the  only  written  or  lit- 
erary form  of  the  speech  of  the  country  and  it  is  in  the  main  to 
the  writings  of  that  period  that  we  must  look  for  the  ground- 
work on  which  our  modern  English  has  been  built  up.  Virginia 
English  is  the  southwestern. 


6  Forewords.    . 

i 

The  classical  English  of  to-day  is  neither  northern  nor  southern 
but  midland;  and  of  the  midland  it  is  eastern  and  not  western. 
The  literary  language  was  settled  by  the  writers,  and  their  being 
at  the  seat  of  government,  the  political  and  literary  centre.  As 
London  became  the  capital  there  was  the  court  and  parliament; 
there  were  also  the  law  courts,  these  drawing  to  that  point  the 
principal  people  of  the  country,  both  for  business  and  pleasure; 
the  writers  were  there,  and  the  readers.  Chaucer  was  one  of 
the  principal  writers;  wrote  in  the  Midland  dialect,  and  did  a 
great  deal  towards  making  it  the  classical  English.  Wyclif's 
translation  of  the  Bible,  and  his  numerous  English  sermons  and 
tracts  went  far  towards  fixing  the  literary  language.  Midland 
speech  became  the  national  literary  tongue. 

The  seaports  of  Devonshire  had  early  become  the  main  strong- 
holds of  maritime  enterprize;  and  in  the  sixteenth  century  Dev- 
onshire was  distinguished  from  the  rest  of  England  by  its  activity 
and  progress.  We  find  many  of  the  men  connected  with  the 
early  settlement  of  Virginia  from  southwestern  England.  Of 
course  there  were  many  from  London,  Kent  and  other  parts; 
but  there  were  Cabot,  Raleigh,  Drake,  the  Gilberts,  Somers,  Bas- 
set, Botetourt,  Cary,  and  others  of  the  principal  men  from  the 
southwest. 

Moreover,  the  west,  above  all  districts  of  England,  seems  to 
have  had  a  numerous  gentry  bound  by  constant  intermarriages 
into  a  great  clan,  strongly  animated  by  local  pride  and  a  pecu- 
liar love  of  country.  These  are  striking  characteristics  of  Vir- 
ginians. In  Virginia,  essentially  the  whole  of  the  white  blood 
i-,  English,  that  has  been  on  the  soil  for  over  two  hundred  years. 
It  is  not  believed  that  there  is  any  body  of  folk  of  as  purely 
I  English  stock  as  the  white  population  of  Virginia,  and  the  States 
descended  from  her;  and  it  amounts  to  about  three  millions  of 
people,  and  there  i^  scarcely  any  admixture  of  other  blood. 
Nothing  in  their  history  shows  the  least  tailing  off  from  the 
qualities  that  have  always  distinguished  their  race  in  all  times 
and  all  places.  The  Virginian  has  a  good  opinion  of  himself,  is 
calm,  well-balanced,  is  self  reliant  and  has  the  English  quality 
of  not  being  afraid  to  take  responsibility. 

In  a  living   form  are  now  to  be  heard  in  the  southwest,  words 


Forewords.  7 

and  pronunciations  which  have  remained  unaltered  at  least  since 
the  time  of  Simon  de  Montfort. 

There  are  many  Wiltshire  words  in  Virginia  speech:  Bache- 
lor s  buttons,  wild  scabious.  Craw;  cross-grained;  drag,  for 
harrow;  handy,  near  at  hand;  pnrserve,  preserve;  whicker. 

From  Cornwall  we  have:  Half,  haalf;  marster.     Care,  keer; 

yallow;  been,  bin;  heard,  heerd;  ear,  with  a  faint  sound  of  y, 

year.     In  words  of  more  than  one  syllable  ending  in  ing,  the  g 

is  omitted,  as  goin;  singin.      Put  an  a  before  the  participle,  as 

a-going,  a-huntin.       D  is  commonly  elided  at  the  end  of  words, . 

as  ban,  band;  groun,  ground. 

Middle  English,  Mercian,  became  the  standard  speech  and  its 
influence  is  seen  in  Virginia  English  where  we  find  the  tendency 
to  change  v  into  b;  rivet,  a  ribet;  trivet,  a  tribbet.  C  to  eh,  as 
rench  for  rinse;  curchey,  for  curtsey.  D  final  to  /,  holt,  licit,  for 
hold,  held.  The  double  d  is  often  pronouced  as  ///,  bladder, 
blather;  ladder,  lather.  Guard,  garden,  blackguard,  are  always 
pronounced  geard,  gearden,  blackgeard.  L  sometimes  changes 
to  r,  as  frail,  for  flail;  frounce,  for  flounce;  fresh- fork,  for  flesh- 
fork;  warnut,  for  walnut.  N  often  changes  to  m,  as  seven,  gen- 
erally sevm,  or  sebm;  churm,  nimepence.  R,  often  elided, 
mossel,  for  morsel,  the  r  is  clearly  sounded  \\\  pritfy,  for  pretty; 
gearl,  girl.  Chopped  hands;  poller,  for  follow;  stroddle,  for 
straddle;  homper,  for  hamper;  cotch,  caught.  Fur,  furder,  fur- 
drest.  Drean,  for  drain.  Gret,  for  great.  Brek,  for  break. 
Git,  yit,  chist.  Yalla,  wrastle.,  sarvant,  varmint.  Heerd,  heern, 
Arrant,  for  errand.  Peart.  Ear,  ee-a;  year,  yee-a.  Blate,  for 
bleat.  Yo,  yoe,  for  ewe.  Beth,  for  pith;  set,  for  sit.  Favourite, 
favrit;  month,  for  moth;  an/is,  for  office;  caufy,  for  coffee. 
Close,  for  clothes.  Gallus,  for  gallows,  galluses.  Sut,  for 
soot.  Coob,  for  coop,  fine,  for  join;  lines,  for  loins;  kivi'cr,  for 
cover.  Mischievous,  with  accent  on  second  syllable;  contrary, 
with  accent  on  second  syllable.  In  answer  to  the  question, 
"Who  is  that?"      "It's  me,"  always. 

In  comparing  the  glossaries  of  the  English  Dialect  Society,  it 
seems  that  the  words  dike  and  ditch  are  used  indifferently  for  the 
same  thing.  We  in  Virginia  use  dike,  for  the  bank  on  the  edge 
of  the  ditch,  which  is  a  canal  cut  in  the  ground. 


8  Forewords. 

Perused,  a  book  or  newspaper,  also  used  locally  as  in  search 
of  something-. 

Hampshire  gives  us  ckim/ey,  brickie,  brickly. 

The  first  permanent  English  settlement  in  America  was  at 
Jamestown,  in  1607.  Shakespeare  died  in  1616.  The  coloniza- 
tion from  England  was  steady,  and  the  colonists  fairly  repre- 
sented the  England  of  the  day.  The  English  of  that  day  was 
Shakespeare's  English,  with  the  speech  and  proverbs  of  the 
people  that  have  been  kept  to  the  present  day.  They  were 
Shakespeare's  contemporaries  who  came,  the  very  men  and 
women,  some  of  them  doubtless  knowing  him  not  only  as  an 
actor,  but  personally. 

By  the  geographical  position  of  Virginia,  and  the  fact  that  the 
lands  were  early  taken  up,  there  were  no  newcomers  after  the 
earliest  years;  the  first  who  came  were  of  course  of  the  same 
stock,  manners,  customs  and  speech.  Many  of  the  tracts  of 
land  now  held,  are  of  the  same  boundaries  of  the  first  divident, 
with  the  names  first  given  to  them,  "  Buck  Roe,"  "  Little  Eng- 
land," "Celey's,"  "  Newport's  News,"  "Blunt  Point,"  "Den- 
bigh," "Balthrope,"  "  Martin's  Hundred,"  "  Kingsmill,"  "In- 
dian Field,"  "Green  Spring,"  "Weyanoke,"  "Varina,"  and 
others. 

In  Virginia  fifty  acres  of  land  was  given  to  every  free  immi- 
grant who  came  at  his  own  cost,  with  fifty  acres  more  for  every 
person  that  he  transported;  his  wife  and  children  counting  as 
head-rights. 

Virginia  English  seems  to  resemble  the  standard  English  of 
the  time  that  the  first  immigrants  came  to  the  country,  and  there 
has  been  no  foreign  mixture,  as  the  comers  were  English,  and 
few  or  none  have  come  from  other  parts  of  the  United  States; 
the  lands  having  been  taken  up  early,  there  was  no  room  for 
new  comers,  and  there  were  no  towns,  every  man's  shipping- 
port  was  on  his  own  land.  There  also  seems  to  be  a  distinctly 
southern,  southwestern  and  east  midland  character  in  the  speech, 
little  or  none  of  the  East  Anglian  or  Norfolk.  Virginia  English 
is  not  a  development  of  the  American  soil,  but  a  survival  of 
archaic  English  forms  that  have  been  lost  in  England.  The 
accent  being  pure  and  softer,  there  is  no  rugged  burr,  no  nasal 


Forewords.  9 

twang,  such  as  almost  every  voice  in  the  north  has.  We  never 
have  the  trilled  r  of  the  Italian,  nor  the  Northumbrian  dorr,  the 
r  being  slurred  and  almost  silent.  R  not  followed  by  a  vowel 
is  lost  or  reduced  in  Southern  England.  The  language  spoken 
in  Virginia  cannot  be  called  a  dialect,  but  old  English  that  has 
undergone  few  changes  since  it  was  brought  from  England,  none 
of  these  changes  caused  by  mixture  of  different  languages,  but 
slight  changes  of  accent  or  intonation  caused  by  change  of  cli- 
mate, mode  of  life  and  such  reasons. 

Good  spoken  English  often  differs  from  book  English.  Chil- 
dren are  carefully  taught  to  avoid  various  forms  of  ' '  bad  English  " 
by  persons  not  all  of  whom  can  correctly  distinguish  in  every 
case  between  bad  English  and  idiomatic  colloquial  English;  by 
colloquial  is  meant  belonging  to  common  speech,  characteristic 
of  or  proper  to  ordinary  conversation,  distinguished  from  formal 
or  elevated  language.  Romance  words  are  constantly  borrowed 
from  literary  English,  especially  when  it  is  wished  to  replace  a 
short  and  familiar  word  by  a  longer  and  more  grandly  sounding 
one;  perspiration  for  sweat.  Often  good  old  words  are  driven 
out  by  the  school-master;  boys  are  told  that  a  tooth  is  "ex- 
tracted," not  "pulled  out,"  and  not  to  say  "catching"  in  the 
sense  of  "contagious,"  and  to  say  "fractured  limb"  for  "bro- 
ken leg." 

Ours  is  the  English  of  every-day  life  and  not  of  dictionaries 
and  technical  works,  and  it  will  be  seen  how  large  a  number  are 
of  pure  English  roots.  These  words  are  simply  put  down  as 
they  are,  and  not  as  some  people  think  they  ought  to  be.  I  did 
not  make  them,  but  the  every-day  people  made  them  as  they 
had  use  for  them,  and  used  the  shortest  and  most  straightforward 
words  to  express  what  they  meant. 

There  are  very  few  foreign  words  in  Virginia  English  chat  were 
not  brought  from  England.  There  are  a  few  Indian  words,  such 
as  Chinkapen,  Chipmunk,  Hominy,  Moccasin,  Monock,  Opos- 
sum (Possum),  Persimmon,  Pohickory  (Hickory),  Pone,  Poquo- 
son, Raccoon  (Coon),  Skunk,  Squaw,  Tomahawk,  Tuckahoe, 
Wampum,  Wigwam.  There  are  many  place-names:  Cheba- 
peake,  Chickahominy,  Chuckatuck,  Mattaponi,  Pamunkey, 
Pocahontas,  Potomac,  Totopotomoi  and  others. 


10  Forewords. 

The  following  counties — Accomack,  Alleghany,  Appomattox, 
Nansemond,  Nottoway,  Powhatan,  Rappahannock,  Roanoke, 
Shenandoah. 

The  only  negro  word  is  juba,  the  name  of  a  dance;  no  negro 
verbs  were  added,  as  there  were  none  that  could  take  the  place 
of  English  words  in  use. 

A  list  of  dialectic  words  can  never  be  said  to  be  complete, 
while  to  enter  fully  into  the  force  of  them  one  must  be  conver- 
sant with  the  habits  of  thought  of  the  speaker,  and  with  his 
peculiar  accent  and  intonation.  My  object  has  been  to  put  on 
record,  as  far  as  I  am  able,  the  dialect  of  my  own  county  and  of 
the  part  that  we  call  the  "Lower  Peninsula,"  between  the 
"  Jeames  "  and  York  rivers,  and  from  Williamsburg  to  the  Ches- 
apeake Bay;  they  are  practically  one  folk  and  one  speech. 

One  reason  for  gathering  these  folk-words  is  the  hope  that 
people  who  wish  to  learn  more  about  their  every-day  speech 
may  have  a  list  of  good  words  within  their  reach,  from  which 
they  may  take  what  they  need  and  save  the  speech  of  their 
fathers;  and  also  it  maybe  of  use  to  the  comparative  philologist. 
I  have  tried  to  set  all  this  down  in  the  very  words  that  we  would 
use  among  ourselves  when  not  trying  to  talk  or  write  fine. 

As  has  been  said  before,  the  lands  were  early  taken  up  and 
settled,  and  received  no  considerable  accessions  from  outside 
untill  the  last  thirty  years.  The  economic  conditions  have  been 
such  that,  while  the  native-born  population  has  been  able  to 
maintain  itself  in  a  comfortable  and  dignified  condition,  outsiders, 
since  the  first  opening  up  of  the  Country,  have  not  been  attracted 
to  move  in.  The  natural  increase  of  the  population  has  been 
sufficient  t<>  maintain  its  numbers  and  send  very  many  natives  to 
the  regions  of  the  west,  on  the  same  lines  of  latitude  as  people 
generally  travel  in  their  migrations.  Down  to  the  time  of  the 
people  win.  arc  alive  now,  the  region  has  had  a  stable,  homo- 
geneous population  of  intelligent  farm-folk,  whose  English  comes 
of  good  stock,  and  has  been  handed  down  from  generation  to 
generation  free  from  outside  influences.  As  there  were  few  towns 
the  professional  men  were  of  the  same  country-bred  stock.  The 
sent  generation  have  come  greatly  under  the  influence  of  the 


Forewords.  11 

school-mistress  and  the  newspaper,  but  the  generation  now  gray- 
headed  have  a  speech  inherited  in  all  its  purity. 

I  ""Have  always  accepted  a  good  definition  wherever  found. 
The  words  have  been  taken  from  the  mouths  of  the  people; 
from  books,  newspapers  and  wherever  they  could  be  found. 
The  records  of  the  oldest  counties  are  a  mine  for  the  word- 
gatherer;  the  wills  and  deeds  are  usually  written  by  lawyers, 
who  use  the  law-jargon  of  their  trade,  but  the  depositions  and 
inventories  use  the  very  words  of  the  people,  taken  down  from 
their  mouths  in  the  first  and  written  with  their  own  hands  in  the 
latter;  more  valuable  in  that  they  spell  the  words  as  they  are 
pronounced  and  not  always  by  the  rules  of  spelling;  besides, 
they  give  the  names  of  many  household  things  that  have  gone 
entirely  out  of  use. 

In  gathering  these  words  I  have  made  use  of  what  has  been 
done  by  all  who  have  gone  before  me  in  the  work.  The  subject 
is  not  exhausted;  to  make  it  perfect  would  be  impossible,  but  I 
hope  some  words  have  been  saved  that  might  otherwise  have 
been  lost.  I  have  tried  to  put  down  everything  that  is  not  in 
standard  English,  not  to  miss  a  word  because  it  was  current  in 
other  places,  and  to  note  every  word  without  stopping  to  ascer- 
tain if  it  is  peculiar  to  this  locality.  Dialectal  words  have  a  good 
claim  to  be  considered  English;  they  are  survivals,  and  many 
words  have  locally  a  secondary  meaning. 

Among  the  dictionaries  used  are  Bailey,  Century,  Murray's 
N.  E.  D.,  Halliwell,  Nares,  Wright,  Grose,  Skeat,  the  word- 
lists  of  the  English  Dialect  Society  and  the  American  Dialect 
Society,  making  free  use  of  everything  that  I  could  lay  my  hands 
on  to  make  the  book  fuller  and  better.  If  this  book  helps  in 
the  direction  of  sounder  English,  the  time  spent  in  making  it 
will  not  have  been  wasted. 

Glossaries  should  be  full  of  examples  of  local  expressions  to 
show  the  peculiarities  intended  to  be  illustrated.  They  should 
describe  the  facts  of  usage  instead  of  trying  to  lay  down  rules 
for  usage  to  follow.  Nor  should  they  give  what  the  meanings  of 
words  ought  to  be  in  theory,  instead  of  what  they  are  in  fact. 
Neither  should  the  grammarian  make  laws  for  the  language,  but 
describe  it  as  it  is. 


12  Forewords. 

Who,  as  a  word-gatherer,  can  say  at  the  end  of  his  work  that 
the  material  is  exhausted  ?  It  is  well  to  gather  what  is  at  hand, 
leaving  the  rest  for  another  time  and  other  hands,  not  waiting 
that  all  may  be  lost.  Better  to  err  on  the  side  of  including  too 
much  than  too  little. 

"  If  no  other  bookes  can  be  so  well  perfected,  but  still  some- 
thing may  be  added,  how  much  lesse  a  Word-booke?  " 

Florio's   Worlde  of  Wordes  (1598). 

B.  W.   Green, 

"Warwick,    Virginia. 
Richmond,  February,  1899. 


Longing — Looking-glass.  225 

Longing,  n.     An  eager  desire;  an  earnest  wish  or  craving. 

Long-potatoes,  n.  pi.     Sweet  potatoes. 

Long  run,  n.  In  the  end.  "It  will  be  all  right  in  the  long 
run." 

Long-sighted,  adj.  Having  foresight;  of  acute  intellect;  sa^- 
gacious;  far-seeing. 

Long-tongue,  n.     A  tale-bearer;  a  gossip. 

Long-tongued,  adj.     Prating;  babbling;  loquacious. 

Long-waisted,  adj.  Having  a  long  waist.  Long  from  the 
armpits  to  the  waist  or  narrowest  part,  as  a  dress  or  coat. 

Longways,  adv.     Longwise;  lengthways. 

Long-winded,  adj.  Tedious  from  length;  of  a  wearisome  or 
burdensome  length;  slow  in  doing  anything;  dilatory. 

Look.  n.  Appearance  or  seeming  in  general;  quality  of  any- 
thing as  judged  by  the  eye  or  the  understanding:  as,  "I 
don't  like  the  look  of  the  sky. "  "  The  look  of  the  thing  is 
bad."     As  a  verb.      "  He  looked  much  older." 

Look,  n.  Visual  or  facial  expression;  cast  of  countenance;  per- 
sonal aspect.      "  He  has  a  sour  look  on  his  face." 

Look-after,^.  To  watch;  to  attend  to.  "He  was  sent  to 
look-after  the  cattle." 

Look  at,  exclam.      "  Now  look  at  you  !  " 

Look  a-here.  Look  here,  a  phrase  to  call  attention  and  to 
emphasize  it.    '  "Look  a-here,  don' t  forget  to  call  at  the  store. ' ' 

Looker-on,  n.     One  who  looks  on;  a  spectator. 

Looked  on,  v.     Respected.      "  He  is  very  much  looked  on." 

Look  over.  v.  To  forgive.  "I  don't  see  how  he  can  look 
over  that." 

Looking,  n.  Appearance;  aspect;  countenance.  "She is  very 
good-  look i 'ng. ' ' 

Looking-glass,  n.     A  mirror. 

15 


226  Lookout — Lounge. 

Lookout,  n.  A  prospect  or  view;  an  .  outlook.  Future 
prospect. 

Loom,  n.  A  machine  for  weaving  any  fabric  from  yarn  or 
thread. 

Loom,  n.  The  indistinct  or  unnaturally  enlarged  appearance 
of  anything,  as  land,  seen  at  a  distance  or  through  a  fog. 

Loom,  v.  To  appear  indistinctly;  come  dimly  into  view,  as 
from  below  the  horizon  or  through  a  mist. 

Loom-harness,  n.  That  part  of  a  loom  which  moves  the 
warp  threads  to  make  the  crossing  forming  the  shed  in  which 
the  shuttle  travels  and  leaves  the  weft-thread. 

Loosen,  v.  To  free  from  constraint  or  confinement:  as,  to 
loosen  the  bowels,  to  relieve  from  constipation. 

Lope,  n.     A  leisurely  gallop  with  a  long,  easy  stride,  as  a  horse. 

Lope,  v.  To  move  or  run  with  a  long  step,  as  a  dog;  canter 
leisurely  with  a  long,  easy  stride,  as  a  horse.  To  cause  to 
lope  in  going  or  running. 

Lop-eared,  adj.     Having  ears  that  lop  or  hang  down. 

Lop-sided,  adj.  Inclining  to  one  side;  heavier  or  more  devel- 
oped on  one  side  than  the  other,  physically  or  mentally. 

Lord,  n.  "  To  be  good  lord  and  good  devil,'"  to  be  equally  civil 
and  complimentary  to  all,  whether  good  or  bad. 

Lot,;/.  A  good  deal.  "You  didn't  wake  Mary  up."  "I 
waked  her  up  a  lot." 

Lots,  n.  pi.     A  great  deal;  as,  "  He  has  lots  of  money." 

Loud,  adj.  Flashy;  showy;  overloaded  with  ornaments  or  col- 
ours; conspicuous  in  manner  or  appearance;  vulgar;  over- 
done. 

Loud,  adj.     Strong  in  smell;  of  evil  odour. 

Loud,  adv.      Loudly;  noisily. 

Lounge,  v.     To  act,  move,  or  rest  in  a  lazy  or  listless  manner; 


Louse — Lucky.  227 

move  about  or  do  anything  with  negligence  or  indifference. 
To  recline  in  a  lazy  attitude. 

Louse,  v.     To  clean  from  lice. 

Louse-path,  n.     The  parting  of  the  hair  on  the  head. 

Lousey,  adj.     Degraded;  mean;  contemptible. 

Lout,  n.     An  awkward,  ungainly  fellow. 

Love-apple,  n.     The  common  tomato. 

Lovelock,  n,  A  separate  lock  of  hair  hanging  conspicuously 
on  the  head,  either  of  a  man  or  woman. 

Love-pain,  n.     Toothache. 

Love-vine,  n.     Gold-thread. 

Low,  v.  To  utter  the  soft  bellow  peculiar  to  animals  of  the 
cow-kind;  moo. 

Low,  v.  To  allow,  that  is  count,  reckon,  be  of  opinion.  "I 
low  he'll  be  here  to-day."  Hire,  reward.  "  What  do  you 
low?"=what  wages  do  you  pay?     O.  F.  loner. 

Low,  adj.     Not  high  in  character  or  condition. 

Low,  «(//'.  Short  in  height.  "  Mighty  low  man."  (2)  Sick. 
' '  He  is  still  very  low. ' ' 

Lowance,  n.     Share;  portion. 

Low-down,  adj.  Far  down  in  the  scale  of  existence;  a  very 
rude  or  mean  person. 

Low-grounds,  n.     Meadow  or  bottom  land. 

Low-lived,  adj.  Living  a  low  or  mean  life;  vulgar.  Pertain- 
ing to  or  characteristic  of  low  or  vulgar  life;  mean;  shabby. 

Lowery,  adj.     Threatening,  said  of  the  weather. 

Low-spirited,  adj.  Having  low  spirits;  without  animation 
and  courage;  dejected;  depressed;  not  lively  or  sprightly. 

Lozenger,  n.     A  lozenge. 

Lucky,  adj.  Favoured  by  luck;  fortunate;  meeting  with  good 
success. 


228  Lug — Luncheon. 

Lug,  v.  To  pull  with  force  or  effort,  as  something  that  is  heavy 
or  resists;  haul;  drag.  (2)  To  carry  as  something  heavy 
or  burdensome ;  bear  laboriously.     ' '  Lug  in  wood  at  night. 

Lug-sail,  )i.  A  sail  with  a  gaff  and  without  any  boom.  A 
lug-foresail,  is  one  in  a  schooner  without  a  boom,  the  sheet 
coming  aft  to  an  eyebolt  on  the  quarter  part  of  the  deck. 

Lukewarm,  adj.  Only  moderately  warm;  tepid;  neither  cold 
nor  hot. 

Lull,  7'.  To  quiet;  compose;  assuage;  cause  rest  or  subsidence 
by  gentle,  soothing  means. 

Lumbardy,  n.     Lombardy.      llLumbardj>  poplar." 

Lumber,  v.  To  make  a  heavy  rumbling  noise;  rumble.  (2) 
To  move  heavily  or  cumbrously.  (3)  To  make  a  loud  noise, 
as,  a  person  or  animal.      ' '  He  lumbered  when  he  fell. 

Lumber,  n.  Timber  sawn  or  split  for  use,  as  beams,  joists, 
boards,  planks,  staves,  hoops. 

Lumber,  n.  Things  more  or  less  bulky  and  cumbersome, 
thrown  aside  as  of  no  present  use  or  value. 

Lumber,  v.  To  heap  together  in  disorder.  To  fill  with  lum- 
ber; to  encumber  with  anything  useless. 

Lumbered  up,  v.  A  room  or  yard  is  said  to  be  "lumbered 
up  ' '  when  it  is  overcrowded  with  furniture  or  implements. 

Lumbering, prcs.part.  A  dull,  heavy,  prolonged  sound.  The 
sound  of  distant  thunder.  "  It  kept  lumbering  in  the  west 
all  day  yesterday." 

Lummox,  ;/.     An  unwieldy,  clumsy,  stupid  fellow. 

Lump,  v.  To  take  without  choice;  take  "anyhow."  "  If  you 
don't  like  it,  you  may  lump  it." 

Lumping,/),  a.      Bulky;  chunky;  heavy. 

Lumpous,  adj.  Lumpus.  All  of  a  heap.  "She  came  down 
lum/tous."     All  of  a  lump;  of  a  heavy  fall. 

Luncheon,  ;z.      A  slight  meal. 


Luny — Mainstay.  229 

Luny,  adj.  Applied  to  partial  or  temporary  aberration,  and  to 
persons  afflicted  with  partial  lunacy. 

Lurch,  v.     To  roll  or  sway  to  one  side,  or  from  side  to  side. 

Lurch,  n.  Any  sudden  or  unexpected  shift  or  change  of  posi- 
tion. "Lee-larch,'"  a  sudden,  jerky  roll,  as  of  a  ship  rol- 
ling to  leeward. 

Lurk,  v.  Hide  or  keep  out  of  sight,  as  for  ambush  or  escape; 
skulk. 

Lurking-place,  n.  A  place  in  which  one  lurks  or  lies  con- 
cealed; a  secret  place;  a  hiding-place;  a  den. 

Lusty,  adj.     Full-bodied;  or  stout  from  pregnancy. 

Lye,  n.     Water  in  which  wood  ashes  have  been  steeped. 

Lye -trough,  n.  A  trough  in  which  ashes  are  placed  to  let 
the  water  run  through  and  out  at  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  as 
lye. 

M 

Mad,  a;//'.  Very  angry;  enraged;  furious.  "  He  has  been  mad 
with  me  for  a  week." 

Mad  as  fire,  adj.  Very  mad.  "When  he  hears  of  it  he  will 
be  as  mad  as  jire. 

Mad-doctor,  n.     A  doctor  who  treats  mad  people. 

Mad-house,  n.  A  house  where  mad  people  are  confined  for 
cure  or  for  restraint. 

Madman,  n.  A  man  who  is  insane;  a  distracted  man;  a  crazy 
person. 

Mahvil,  n.     A  marble.      "We'll  play  a  game  of  mahvils." 

Maiden-land,  n.  Land  that  a  man  gets  with  his  wife  and  loses 
at  her  death. 

Main-road,  n.  Principal  road;  highway.  "  He  lives  on  the 
main-road  near  the  Court-house." 

Mainstay,  n.     Chief  support  of  a  household;  main  dependence. 


/ 


230  Make— Make  up. 

Make,  v.  The  ripening  of  grain  or  fruit.  "  The  grain  didn't 
make  well  this  year. ' ' 

Make,  v.  To  compel.  "If  you  don't  go  I'll  make  you.'' 
(2)  To  earn.      "  He  makes  about  two  dollars  aday." 

Make,  v.  To  make  believe,  to  pretend;  act  as  if:  as,  "  He  was 
only  making  believe." 

Make,  v.  To  do;  act;  beactive;  take  a  course  or  line  of  action. 
To  make  way;  proceed;  move;  direct  one's  course;  with 
words  expressing  direction :  as,  ' '  He  made  towards  home. ' ' 
To  make  at,  to  approach  as  if  to  attack;  make  a  hostile 
movement  against.      "  He  made  at  him  with  a  knife." 

Make,  n.  Form;  shape;  constitution  and  arrangement  of  parts; 
structure:  as,  a  man  of  slender  make.  A  sort,  kind,  or 
fashion. 

Make-belief,  n.  Pretense;  sham;  false  or  fanciful  representa- 
tion. 

Make  for,  v.  To  go  towards.  "A  squall  is  coming  up,  we 
had  better  make  for  shore." 

Make-game, ;/.  One  who  makes  a  laughing-stock  of  another; 
one  who  makes  of  another  a  butt  for  jest  and  sport.  One 
who  makes  fun  of  another. 

Make  out,  v.  To  be  able  to  see  or  understand  something:  as, 
"  I  can't  make  out  what  it  is." 

Make-outs,  >i.  pi.  Things  with  which  one  can  manage  to  get 
along  in  place  of  something  else.  Also,  people  who  pre- 
tend to  be  something  that  they  are  not:  as,  "  They  are  great 
make-outs. " 

Makeshift,  n.  An  expedient  adopted  to  serve  a  present  need 
or  turn;  a  temporary  substitute. 

Make  shift,  adj.     Of  the  nature  of  a  temporary  expedient. 

Make  up,  v.  To  be  reconciled.  "They  have  finally  made  up 
their  difference."  (2)  To  repair.  '"Make  up  the  fence  that 
has  been  blown  down." 


Make  up  to — Mare's-nest.  231 

Make  up  to,  v.  For  a  man  to  show  marked  attention  to  a 
woman.      "  He  makes  up  to  the  Jones  girl." 

Mammock,  n.     A  shapeless  piece;  a  fragment. 

Mammock,  v.     To  tear  in  pieces;  mangle. 

Mammy,  n.     Mother.     Also  applied  to  the  old  black  nurses. 

Manavel,  v.     To  pilfer  eatables  or  articles  of  small  value. 

Manavellings,  n.  pi.  Odds  and  ends  of  food;  scraps;  "leav- 
ings;" remnant  of  a  meal.  "Dog's  leavings."  Small 
perquisites. 

Mango,  ;/.  A  green  muskmelon  stuffed  with  horse-radish, 
mustard  seed,  mace,  nutmeg,  ginger,  and  then  pickled. 

Maninose,  n.     Mannose.     The  soft  clam. 

Manhandle,  v.  To  overcome  or  controll  by  main  force.  "  It 
took  three  men  to  manhandle  him." 

Mannerly,  adj.     Well  behaved;  polite. 

Manners,;;./)/.     Behaviour;  conduct;  deportment. 

Mannish,  adj.  Simulating  manhood;  having  the  air  or  appear- 
ance of  manliness. 

Manyplies,  n.  Third  stomach  of  a  cow  from  its  many  folds 
like  the  leaves  of  a  book. 

Mantlepiece,  n.  The  work  or  wainscotting  around  a  fireplace, 
including  usually  one  shelf  or  more. 

Marchantable,  adj.  In  good  condition;  fit  for  sale.  Used  to 
mean  tobacco  that  was  currency  in  Virginia.  Specifically, 
inferior  to  the  best  or  selected,  but  sufficiently  good  for 
ordinary  purposes. 

March-hare,  n.  Acting  wildly  or  senselessly;  strangely  freak- 
ish; mad  as  a  March-hare. 

Mare's-nest,  n.  An  absurd  or  ridiculous  imagined  discovery; 
something  of  apparent  importance  which  a  person  fancies 
he  has  discovered,  but  which  turns  out  to  be  a  delusion  and 
a  hoax.  "  He  has  found  a  mare's  nest,  and  is  laughing  at 
the  eggs." 


232  Mare's-tails— Mash. 

Mare's-tails,  n.  pi.  Long,  straight  fibres  of  grey  cirrus  cloud, 
an  indication  of  the  approach  of  stormy  weather. 

M argent,  n.     For  margin. 

Mark,  n.  Made  on  the  ears  of  animals  by  various  cuts  with  a 
knife  to  distinguish  the  ownership. 

Marketing,  n.  Groceries  or  other  articles  bought  by  people 
when  they  go  to  market. 

Marking-pole,  n.  A  pole  ten  of  twelve  feet  long  used  in 
ploughing  long  furrows;  the  distance  between  furrows  was 
marked  by  the  pole,  and  they  were  stuck  up  in  the  ground 
at  long  distances,  usually  with  a  small  white  rag  to  be  seen 
readily. 

Marl,  >i.  A  mixture  of  clay  with  carbonate  of  lime,  used  for 
manureing  land. 

Marl,  v.     To  overspread  or  manure  with  marl. 

Marl-bank,  ;/.  A  place  where  marl  is  dug  from  the  natural 
deposit. 

Marm,  n.  A  form  of  ma'am,  madam;  "yes'm;'  "no'm." 
In  answer  to  a  call:  as,  "John  !"    "  Marm." 

Marrow-bones,  n.  pi.  The  bones  of  the  knees:  the  knees. 
Used  both  literally  and  figuratively. 

Marsh-blackbird,  n.     A  species  of  blackbird  living  in  marshes. 

Marsh-hen,  n.     A  bird  living  in  marshes. 

Marshy,  adj.      Partaking  of  the  nature  of  a  marsh;  swampy. 

Marse,  n.     Master:  as,  "A/arse  Bob." 

Martin,  ;/.  House-martin,  a  bird  that  builds  its  nest  under  the 
eaves  of  houses.      Black  martin. 

Martingill,  n.      Martingale. 

Marvel,  n.     A  marble. 

Maryland  side,  n.  The  hock  of  the  ham.  The  other  is  the 
Virginia  side. 

Mash,  n.     A  form  of  marsh.     Contraction  of  marish. 


Mash— Matter-of-course.  233 

Mash,  n.     A  form  of  mesh. 

Mash,  v.  To  press  or  beat  into  a  confused  mass;  crush  by- 
beating  or  pressure:  as,  to  mash  apples  in  a  mill. 

Mash,  v.     To  crush  by  weight;  to  break. 

Mash-grass,  n.     Grass  that  grows  in  marshes. 

Mason,  n.  A  wasp  that  makes  its  nest  with  grains  of  sand 
mixed  with  saliva,  and  fixes  it  on  the  sides  of  walls,  and 
other  places. 

Massacree,  v.  To  massacre.  "  If  you  do  that  he  will  mas- 
sacre e  you." 

Mast,  n.  The  fruit  of  the  oak  and  beech  or  other  forest  trees; 
acorns  or  nuts  collectively,  serving  as  food  for  animals. 

Mat,?;.  Twist  together;  interweave  like  a  mat;  entangle.  "His 
hair  is  so  matted  that  he  can't  get  a  comb  through  it." 

Match,  n.  A  pair;  a  couple;  two  persons,  things,  or  sets  mated 
or  suited  to  each  other.  A  mating  or  pairing;  a  coupling; 
a  joining  of  two  persons  or  things. 

Match,  n.     The  wick  of  a  candle,      "one  skayne  of  match." 

Match-coat,  n.  A  large,  loose  coat  formerly  worn  by  the  In- 
dians, first  of  fur  skins  matched  and  sewn  together,  after- 
wards of  a  kind  of  coarse  woollen  cloth.  ' 

Matchcock,  n.     (?)     "  Fower  matchcock  chiers." 

Matross,  n.  An  artillery  soldier  next  to  the  gunners  and  helped 
them  to  load  and  fire. 

Matter,  n.  Pus;  the  discharge  of  matter  from  an  abscess  or 
wound. 

Matter,  n.  Ground  of  consideration;  importance;  consequence; 
used  especially  in  interrogative  and  negative  phrases. 

Matter,  v.     To  form  pus;  collect  or  be  discharged,  as  matter  in 

an  abscess;  also,  to  discharge  pus. 
Matter-of-course,  adj.     Proceeding  as  a  natural  consequence; 

following  naturally  as  a  thing  to  be  expected  or  about  which 

there  can  be  no  question. 


234  Matter-of-fact— Mealy. 

Matter-of-fact,  adj.  Consisting  of  or  pertaining  to  facts;  not 
fanciful,  imaginative,  or  ideal;  ordinary;  commonplace: 
applied  to  things. 

Mattery,  adj.     Purulent;  generating  pus. 

Maul,  n.     A  heavy  wooden  hammer  or  mallet. 

Maul,  v.  To  split  with  wedges  and  a  maul.  "  I  have  maided 
two  hundred  rails  to-day." 

Mauling,  n.     A  severe  beating,  as  with  a  stick  or  the  fists. 

Maw,  n.     The  stomach  of  animals,  and  also  of  human  beings. 

(/Mawkish,  adj.      Insipid;  sickening  to  the  taste. 

Mawss,  ?>.     Moss. 

May-apple,  ?i.  A  plant  with  a  large  white  flower  and  yellowish, 
pulpy,  slightly  acid  fruit,  larger  than  a  hen's  egg,  some- 
times eaten. 

Maybe,  adv.     Perhaps;  possibly;  probably. 

Mayduke,  n.      Me'doc.      A  variety  of  cherry  of  the  sour  type. 

May-fly,  n.  An  insect  troublesome  to  horses  in  spring  and 
summer. 

Maypop,  n.     The  fruit  of  the  passion-flower. 

Maze,  n.      Bewilderment;  perplexity.     To  be  in  a  maze. 

Mazerin-dish,  a.  Mazerine.  A  dish  made  of  maple  wood. 
Mazer. 

Meal,  //.     The  ground  powder  of  corn. 

Meal,  n.  The  supply  of  food  taken  at  one  time  for  the  relief 
of  hunger.     A  meal  of  victuals,  food  enough  for  one  meal. 

Meal-bag,  n.  Made  of  a  salt-sack,  held  three  bushels  of  corn 
or  meal,  and  used  for  sending  "  toll  "  to  mill  every  week. 

Meal-time,  n.     The  usual  time  for  eating  a  meal. 

Meal-tub,  ;/.      A  large  tub  or  barrel  for  holding  meal. 

Mealy,  adj.  Light,  floury,  and  white  when  cooked;  said  of 
Irish  potatoes. 


Mealy-mouthed— Melt.  235 

Mealy-mouthed,  adj.  Speaking  cautiously  or  warily;  not 
saying  plainly  what  is  meant;  soft-spoken;  given  to  the  use 
of  soft  or  honied  words.  (2)  White-mouthed,  as  if  dipped 
in  meal.      "Item,     one  Mealy-mouthed  bull." 

Mealy-mouthed,  adj.  A  bay  or  brown  horse  having  a  light- 
coloured  muzzle. 

/Mean,  adj.  Niggardly;  penurious;  miserly;  stingy.  (2)  Of 
little  or  no  account;  low  in  worth  or  estimation;  worthy  of 
little  or  no  regard;  contemptible.  (3)  Disobliging;  pettily 
offensive  or  unaccommodating. 

Means,//./)/.  Private  income;  money.  "He  lives  on  his 
means. ' ' 

Measly,  adj.  Good  for  nothing;  miserable;  wretched;  con- 
temptible.     (2)  Spotted,  as  pork. 

Measuring- worm,  //.  So  called  from  its  mode  of  progression, 
moving  its  head,  afterwards  drawing  its  tail  along  making  a 
loop,  then  moving  its  head  forward  again. 

Meat,  n.  The  flesh  of  warm-blood  animals  ordinarily  killed  for 
food. 

Meat-house,  //.  The  house  where  the  supply  of  meat  is 
smoked  and  kept  for  use. 

Meddle,  v.  To  interfere  or  take  part  inappropriately,  improp- 
erly, or  impertinently;  concern  or  busy  one's  self  with  or 
about  something  without  necessity  or  warrant;  act  in  a  mat- 
ter with  which  one  has  no  business. 

Meddlesome,  adj.  Given  to  meddling;  apt  to  interpose  in  the 
affairs  of  others;  inclined  to  be  officiously  intrusive. 

Meeting-house,  //.      Any  house  of  worship. 

Mek,  v.     To  make.      "  Come  in  and  mek  the  fire." 

Meller,  adj.     Mellah.      Mellow;  soft. 

Mellow,  adj.  Rendered  good  humoured  or  genial  by  liquor; 
somewhat  under  the  influence  of  liquor;  half-tipsy. 

Melt,  //.     The  spleen. 


236  Mend— Metes. 

Mend,  ;/.  Amendment;  improvement;  course  of  improvement; 
way  to  recovery:  as,  to  be  on  the  mend,  said  especially  of 
persons  recovering  from  sickness.  "  He's  been  sick  but  is 
now  on  the  mending-hand. ' ' 

Mend,  7'.     To  mend  the  fire  is  to  add  fresh  fuel  to  it. 

Mend  his  gait,  v.     To  go  faster. 

Men-folks,  ;/.  pi.  The  men  of  a  household  or  community  col- 
lectively. 

Merchandizing,  part.  Trading.  "  He  has  been  merchandiz- 
ing all  his  life." 

Merchandizing  goods,  n.  pi.  Goods  for  sale,  not  for  home 
use. 

Merrygold,  n.     Marigold;  the  flower. 

[/       Merrymaking,  n.     A  convivial  entertainment;  a  gay  festival. 

Merrythought,  n.  The  wishbone  of  a  fowl's  breast;  so  called 
from  the  sport  of  breaking  it  between  two  persons  each  of 
them  pulls  at  one  of  the  two  ends,  to  determine  which  is  to 
be  married  first. 

Mesh,  ;/.  "Wheat  to  the  f/iesh."  Mash,  a  mixture  of  ground 
grain  malted,  and  water  for  brewing.  (?) 

Mess,  ;/.  A  quantity  of  food  sufficient  for  one  or  more  persons 
for  a  single  meal.  In  fishing,  the  amount  or  number  of 
fish  taken.     A  mess  of  fish. 

Mess,  n.  A  disorderly  mixture  or  jumble  of  things;  a  state  of 
dirt  and  disorder:  as,  the  house  was  in  a  mess.  A  situation 
of  confusion,  disorder,  or  embarrassment;  a  muddle:  as,  to 
get  one's  self"  in  a  mess. 

Mess,  :■.  To  make  a  mess  of;  throw  into  confusion:  as,  "He 
messes  the  whole  matter." 

Messy,  adj.  In  a  state  of  mess,  confusion,  or  dirtiness;  mak- 
ing a  mess;  littered  or  littering;  untidy. 

Metes,  n.  pi.      "  Metes  and  bounds,'"  limitation;  limits. 


/ 


Middle- Mile.  237 

Middle,  n.  The  waist;  the  middle  part  of  the  body.  "He 
walked  into  the  water  up  to  his  middle." 

Middle-aged,  adj.  Having  lived  to  the  middle  of  the  ordinary 
age  of  man.  By  a  middle-aged  man  is  generally  understood 
a  man  from  the  age  of  from  forty  to  fifty  years. 

Middle-name,  n.  The  first  name  of  a  person  is  called  the 
given-name ;  the  surname  is  the  name,  and  any  between  the 
two  is  the  middle-name,  or  he  may  have  two  middle-names. 

Middle-sized,  adj.  Half-sized.  Being  of  middle  or  average 
size. 

Middling,  n.  That  part  of  a  hog  that  lies  between  the  ham 
and  the  shoulder;  a  side  of  bacon.  (2)  Coarse  flour  be- 
tween the  fine  flour  and  the  bran. 

Middling,  adj.     Not  in  good  health,  yet  not  very  unwell. 

Middling,  adv.     Tolerably;    moderately. 

Miff,  n.  A  fit  of  petulant  displeasure;  a  feeling  of  slight  anger 
or  resentment. 

Miff,  v.  To  give  a  slight  offence  to;  displease;  nearly  always 
in  the  past  participle:  as,  "  She  was  somewhat  miffed." 

Might,  >i.  With  might  and  main,  with  the  utmost  strength  or 
bodily  exertion. 

Mightily,  adv.  Greatly;  in  or  to  a  great  degree;  very  much. 
"  I  heard  the  new  preacher  and  liked  him  mightily." 

Mighty,  adv.  In  a  great  degree;  very;  exceedingly:  as,  mighty 
thoughtful. 

Mihill,  n.  Myhill;  Mighell.  Forms  of  Micheal.  JVlihell;  Mig- 
hel. 

Milch,  adj.     Give  milk;  furnishing  milk:  as,  a  milch  cow. 

Mildewy,  adj.     Affected  by  or  abounding  in  mildew;  mouldy. 

Mild-spoken,  adj.     Mild  in  speech. 

Mile,  v.      Mile  and  tile,  to  fatigue  with  labour  and  toil. 


238  Milk-and-water— Million. 

Milk-and-water,  adj.  Insipid,  like  milk  diluted  with  water; 
hence,  weak;  characterless;  wishy-washy. 

Milk-pail,  ;/.  A  pail  for  holding  milk;  the  wooden  or  tin  ves- 
sel commonly  used  for  milking. 

Milk-pan,  n.  A  large,  shallow  pan  in  which  milk  is  kept  to 
allow  cream  to  rise. 

Milk-piggin,  n.  A  small,  wooden  vessel  with  an  upright  han- 
dle formed  by  continuing  one  stave  above  the  rim,  used  for 
milking. 

Milk-sop,  n.  A  soft,  effeminate,  girlish  man;  one  who  is  de- 
void of  manliness;  a  term  of  contempt. 

Milk-strainer,  n.  Made  of  a  gourd,  with  a  cotton  cloth 
stretched  across  the  bottom. 

Milk-warm,  adj.  Warm  as  milk  as  it  comes  from  the  breast 
or  udder. 

Milky,  adj.  Oysters  when  spawning  are  said  to  be  milky,  and 
unfit  for  food.      "Milky  and  not  jitten  to  eat." 

Mill,  n.  A  stone  hand-mill  for  grinding  grain.  Consisting  of 
two  circular  flat  stones,  the  uppermost  one  with  a  hole  in 
the  middle  and  turning  on  a  metal  pin  passing  through  the 
lower  stone.  In  using  the  mill  the  grain  is  dropped  with 
one  hand  into  the  central  opening,  while  with  the  other  the 
upper  stone  is  turned  by  means  of  a  stick  put  into  a  small 
hole  near  the  edge.     The  stones  are  put  in  a  wooden  frame. 

Millclapper,  n.  Something  making  a  continuous,  clattering 
noise;  a  constant  talker.  "  His  tongue  goes  like  a  mill- 
clapper.  ' ' 

Miller,  n.  To  drown  the  miller  is  to  put  too  much  water  in 
one's  liquor. 

Miller's  thumb,  n.     The  name  of  a  fish. 

Miller's  turn,  ;/.  Where  every  one  takes  his  turn  as  he  comes, 
as  at  the  mill  the  "  first  come  first  served." 

Million,  7i.     A  form  of  melon. 


Mill-peck — Minnum.  239 

Mill-peck,  n.  A  hammer  with  two  chisel-heads,  used  for 
deepening  the  grooves  of  millstones. 

Mill-race,  n.  The  channel  through  which  the  water  runs  to 
get  to  the  mill-wheel  to  be  turned. 

Mill-scite,  n.  Site.  The  ground  on  which  anything  was  or  is 
placed.     Where  a  mill  is  placed. 

Mill-tail,  n.  The  current  of  water  leaving  a  mill-wheel  after 
turning  it,  or  the  channel  through  which  it  runs.  The  waste 
water  from  a  water-mill, 

Mimock,  n.  One  who  or  that  which  imitates  or  mimics.  "  He 
is  always  mimocking  everybody. ' ' 

Mince,  v.  To  utter  primly;  bring  or  show  forth  sparingly  or 
in  a  half-spoken  way;  hence,  to  display  with  affected. deli- 
cacy; use  affectation  in  regard  to:  as,  to  mince  one's  words. 

Mincing,  p.  a.  Speaking  or  walking  affectedly  or  with  cau- 
tion; affectedly  elegant  and  nice;  simpering. 

Mind,  ;/.  Intention;  purpose.  Memory;  remembrance.  In- 
clination.     "  I've  a  mind  to  go  to  bed." 

Mind,  v.  To  regard  with  attention;  pay  attention  to;  notice; 
heed.  (2)  To  take  care  of;  attend  to;  to  take  or  have  the 
oversight  of:  as,  a  boy  to  mind  the  door;  to  mind  a.  child. 
(3)  To  care  for;  be  concerned  about;  be  affected  by.  (4) 
To  look  out  for;  be  watchfull  against.  (5)  To  remind;  to 
notice:  as,  "He  minded  me  of  my  promise."  (6)  To  be 
afraid  of.      "  Don't  mind  him,  he  won't  trouble  you." 

Mindfull,  adj.     Taking  thought  or  care;  heedfull;  thoughtfull. 

Minister's  face,  n.  The  upper  part  of  the  head  of  a  hog, 
from  which  the  ears,  nose,  and  jowl  have  been  cut.  Usually 
boiled,  when  salt,  with  beans. 

Mink,  n.     Minx;  a  pert  girl;  a  huzzy. 

Minniken,  adj.     Mannikin.     Very  small:  as,  " minnikin  pins" 

the  smallest  size  pins  sold. 
Minnum,  n.     A  small  fish. 


240  Mint-stick — Mismanage. 

Mint-stick,  n.  Sticks  of  candy  flavoured  with  peppermint. 
Mint-drops,  small,  round  pieces  of  candy  flavoured  with 
peppermint. 

Minx,  ;/.      A  pert  girl;  a  huzzy. 

Miration,  n.     Surprize.      "  He  made  a  great  miration  at  it." 

Mire,  v.  To  plunge  and  fix  in  mire;  set  or  stall  in  mud;  sink 
in  mud:  as,   poor,  weak  cattle  mired  in  the  soft  marshes. 

Mireing-time,  ;/.  Caretakers  were  used  to  look  after  stock  in 
the  "  miring-time,"  that  is,  in  the  spring  when  the  cattle 
were  thin  and  weak  and  apt  to  get  stuck  in  the  soft  marshes. 

Miry,  adj.  Abounding  with  mire  or  mud;  full  of  mire:  as,  a 
miry  road. 

Misbehave,  v.  To  behave  ill;  conduct  one's  self  improperly 
or  indecorously. 

Misbehaved,  p.  a.     Guilty  of  ill-behaviour;  ill-bred;  rude. 

Misbehavior,  n.  Improper,  rude,  or  uncivil  behavior;  mis- 
conduct. 

Miscall,  v.  To  give  an  unworthy  name  or  character  to;  berate; 
revile. 

Mischief,  n.  To  play  the  mischief;  to  cause  trouble,  damage, 
injury. 

Mischievous,  adj.  With  accent  on  the  e  in  the  second  sylla- 
ble. Fond  of  mischief;  full  of  tricks;  teasing  or  trouble- 
some. 

Misery,  ;/.  A  seated  pain  or  ache;  an  acute  local  ailment:  as, 
a  misery  in  the  back. 

Misfortune,  >i.      An  illegitimate  child. 

Mishap,  )/.      A  lapse  from  virtue.     Also,  a  miscarriage. 

Mislick,  n.     When  an  axe  cuts  out  of  line;  a  false  blow. 

Mismanage,  v.  To  manage  badly;  conduct  carelessly  or  im- 
properly. 


Mismatch — Mizzle.  241 

Mismatch,  n.  To  match  unevenly.  Horses  of  different  sizes 
and  colours  are  mismatched  in  size,  and  mismatched  in  col- 
our.    Shoes  of  different  sets  are  mismatched. 

Mismeant,  v.  Past  tense.  To  mistake.  "It  was  mismeant 
on  my  part." 

Misremember,  v.  To  mistake  in  calling  to  mind;  err  by  fail- 
ure of  memory. 

Miss  Nancy,  ;/.  An  affectedly  prim  young  person  of  either 
sex;  an  effeminate  young  man. 

Misstep,  n.  A  mistake  in  conduct;  an  incautious  or  erroneous 
act. 

Mist,  n.     A  very  fine  rain;  a  fog. 

Misty,  adj.  Accompanied  or  characterized  by  mist;  overspread 
with  mist. 

Misunderstanding,  ;/.  A  disagreement;  difference;  dissen- 
sion; quarrel. 

Mite,  ;/.     A  very  little  of  anything. 

Mitten,  ;/.  A  covering  for  the  hand,  differing  from  a  glove  in 
not  having  a  separate  cover  for  each  finger,  the  thumb  only 
being  separated.  To  get  the  mitten,  to  receive  only  the 
mitten,  instead  of  the  hand;  be  refused  as  a  lover.  A 
woollen  covering  for  the  hands  which  leaves  the  fingers  and 
half  the  thumb  bare.      Mits. 

Mitten  on,  v.  To  sieze  and  hold  fast.  "  When  you  get  near 
enough  mitten  on  to  him." 

Mix,  v.  To  mix  up.  To  confuse;  entangle  mentally.  To  in- 
volve; implicate. 

Mixed  Virginia-cloth,  ;/.  A  cloth  made  in  Virginia  of  cotton 
warp,  cotton  and  woollen  filling  "broke"  by  carding  them 
together,  and  woven  on  a  hand-loom. 

Mizzle,  ;/.      Fine  rain. 

Mizzle,  v.     To  rain  in  very  fine  drops;  drizzle. 

16 


242  Mizzle — Monkey-jacket. 

Mizzle,  v.     To  disappear  suddenly;  decamp;  run  off. 

Mizzling,  n.     A  thick  mist  of  fine  rain;  a  mist. 

Mizzly  adj.      Misty;  drizzly. 

Mo,  adj.     For  more.      Moe. 

Mobby,  n.  The  liquor  or  juice  expressed  from  apples  or 
peaches,  for  distillation  in  making  apple-  or  peach-brandy. 

Moccasin,  n.     A  venomous  serpent  of  the  United  States. 

Mock,  v.  Mork,  or  mawk.  To  imitate,  to  mimic.  To  make 
sport  of  by  mimicry,  ridicule  or  sarcasm;  deride.  "Why 
are  you  always  mocking  that  boy?  " 

Mocking-bird,  n.  A  well  known  song-bird  that  imitates  other 
songsters,  and  other  sounds. 

Moil,  v.     To  be  very  painstaking.     To  "moil and  toil." 

Mole -hole,  //.     The  burrow  of  a  mole. 

Mole-track,  ;/.     The  track  or  course  of  a  mole  under  ground. 

Molosses,  n.     Molasses.      "  A  barrel  of  molosses.'" 

Molly  cottontail,  n.     The  common  rabbit;   "old  hare." 

Monack,  n.      Moonack.     A  woodchuck. 

Moneyed,  adj.      Supplied  with  money;  rich  in  money;  wealthy. 

Money-grubber,  n.     An  avaricious  or  rapacious  person. 

Money-matters,  ;/.  Business.  A  careful  man  is  said  to  look 
after  his  mo)icy-matters,. 

Money-purse,  ;/.      Purse  for  carrying  money. 

Money's-worth,  n.  Full  value;  something  that  is  worth  what 
one  pays  for  it. 

Mongrel,  adj.  Of  a  mixed  or  impure  breed;  begotten  or  made 
up  of  different  kinds. 

Mongrel-duck,  ;/.  A  duck  produced  by  a  cross  between  a 
<  ommon  duck  and  a  muscovy  drake. 

Monkey-jacket,  ;/.  A  short,  close-fitting  coat  or  jacket,  gen- 
erally made  of  stout  material,  as  pilot-cloth,  much  worn  by 
sailors  in  cold   weather. 


Monkey-shine — Mope.  243 

Monkey-shine,  n.  A  trick  or  prank  like  a  monkey's;  buf- 
foonery;  tomfoolery. 

Monkey-wrench,  ;/.  A  screw-key  with  a  moveable  jaw,  which 
can  be  adjusted  by  a  screw. 

Monsus,  adv.  Exceedingly;  extremely;  wonderfully:  as, 
"  That's  a  monsus  hard  thing  to  do." 

Month-of-Sundays,  n.  A  long  and  indefinite  period  of  time. 
"  It  will  take  him  a  month -of- Sundays  to  do  it." 

Monumental,   adj.       Notable;  excessive;  amazing:  as,  monu- 
mental impudence. 
Moo,  v.     To  utter  the  characteristic  cry  of  a  cow;  low. 
Moo-cow,  n.     A  cow. 

Moody,  adj.  Peevish;  fretfull;  out  of  humour;  gloomy;  sullen; 
melancholy. 

Moon,  v.  To  wander  or  gaze  idly  or  moodily  about,  as  if 
moonstruck. 

Moondown,  n.  The  setting,  or  time  of  setting,  of  the  moon. 
"  We'll  get  there  before  moou-doiun." 

Moon-eyed,  adj.     Dim-eyed;  purblind. 

Moon -faced,  adj.  Having  a  round  face  like  the  rising  full 
moon. 

Moon-rise,  n.  The  rising  of  the  moon,  or  its  appearance  above 
the  horizon. 

Moonshine,  n.  Show  without  substance  or  reality;  pretense; 
empty  show;  fiction:  as,  that's  all  moonshine. 

Moonshiny,  adj.  Illuminated  by  moonlight.  "  Moonshiny 
nights." 

Moonstruck,  adj.  Affected,  or  regarded  as  affected  in  mind  or 
health;    by  the  light  of  the  moon;    lunatic;  crazed;  dazed. 

Mope,  n.     A  low-spirited,  listless,  melancholy  person;  a  drone. 

Mope,  v.  To  be  very  dull  and  listless;  especially,  to  be  spirit- 
less or  gloomy;  as  commonly  used,  it  implies  a  rather  trivial 
and  weak  melancholy. 


244  Mop-head — Mother. 

Mop-head,  A  person  with  a  rough,  unkempt  head  of  hair, 
resembling  a  mop. 

Mop-headed,  adj.  Having  rough,  unkemp  hair,  resembling 
the  head  of  a  mop. 

Morello,  ;/.      A  kind  of  cherry  with  a  dark  red  skin. 

Morning-glory,  n.     A  plant  and  flower. 

Morning's  milk,  n.  As  the  cows  are  milked  twice  aday  that 
gotten  in  the  morning  is  called  morning* '  s  milk.  That  in 
the  evening  is  called  night's  milk. 

Morphew,  n.  Moss?  A  scurfy  eruption  on  the  face,  mostly 
of  women  during  pregnancy  and  after  delivery. 

Mort,  adj.     A  very  great  number  or  quantity. 

Mortar,  n.  A  vessel  of  wood,  in  which  corn  is  beaten  with  a 
pestle,  of  metal  or  hard  wood,  for  making  hominy. 

Mortify,  v.  To  humiliate;  depress;  effect  with  vexation  or 
chagrin.     To  bother;  to  tease. 

Mosquito-bar,  ;/.  A  mosquito  net.  It  may  be  a  net-covered 
frame  for  a  window,  or  a  net  canopy  for  a  bed.  Mosquito- 
curtain;  mosquito-net. 

Mosquito-hawk,  ;/.  The  name  of  an  insect  that  preys  on 
mosquitos.      Dragon-fly. 

Mosquito-netting,  n.  A  coarse  fabric  with  large  open  meshes 
used  for  mosquito-bars,  etc. 

Moss,  n.     A  lichen  on  the  face. 

Mossel,  n.     Morsel.      "  He  hasn't  got  a  mossel  of  sense." 

Mote,  n.  A  small  particle;  anything  very  small;  a  minute  par- 
ticle of  straw;  a  small  splinter  of  wood.  "The  butter  is 
full  of  motes." 

Moth,  n.     Any  larva  that  destroys  woollen  fabrics. 

Moth-eaten,   past  part.     Eaten  or  preyed  on  by  moths. 

Mother,  n.  A  stringy,  mucilaginous  substance  which  forms  in 
vinegar  during  the  acetous  fermentation. 


Mother— Moult.  245 

Mother,    v.       To    nurse;  look   after;  take   care  of.       Woman 

mothers  man. 
Mother-bunch,  n.     A  short,  stout  girl. 
Mother-country,  n.     One's  native  country. 
Mothering,  adj.      Motherly.      "  She  was  so  mothering. " 
Motherly,  adj.     Tender;  parental;  affectionate.     Like  a  mother. 
Mothermark,  ;/.      Stain  on   the  face    or  body  of  a   new-born 

child. 
Mother-naked,  adj.     Naked  as  at  birth.     Start  naked.     Quite 

naked. 

Mother- wit,  n.  Native  wit;  common  sense.  Good  sense  un- 
aided by  book-learning. 

Mothy,  adj.     Containing  moths;  eaten  by  moths. 

Motion,  ;/.     Style  or  manner  of  moving;  carriage. 

Motion,  n.     Evacuation  of  the  bowels;  alvine  discharge. 

Motley,  adj.  Party-coloured;  variegated  in  colour;  consisting 
of  different  colours.  Also  dirty.  "Where  did  you  get 
that  motley  face." 

Mottled,  adj.  Spotted;  variegated;  marked  with  blotches  of 
colour,  of  unequal  intensity,  passing  insensibly  into  one 
another.     A  "  mottled  heifer.''' 

Mottle-faced,  adj.  Having  a  face  of  mixed  colours,  usually 
applied  to  cattle. 

Mought,  v.     Form  of  might,  past  tense  of  may. 

Mould,  n.  A  soft  place  on  the  crown  of  children's  heads  where 
the  sutures  are  not  closed,  the  bones  being  incomplete. 

Moulder,  v.  To  burn  slowly;  smoulder.  "The  logs  on  the 
fire  are  mouldering  away."  (2)  To  mildew.  "  The  shoes 
are  all  mouldered  with  the  damp." 

Moulder,  v.  To  consume  slowly.  "Moulders  away  between 
the  Minister's  fingers." 

Moult,  v.     To  shed  or  cast,  as  feathers,  hair,  or  skin;  slough  off. 


246  Mouse— Muddler. 

Mouse,  v.     To  hunt  out,  as  a  cat  hunts  out  mice. 

Mouse-coloured,  adj.  Having  the  gray  colour  of  a  mouse, 
or  a  colour  somewhat  similar. 

Mouser,  n.  An  animal  that  catches  mice;  specifically,  a  cat; 
commonly  used  with  a  qualifying  word  to  describe  the  pro- 
ficiency of  the  animal  as  a  mouse-catcher.     A  good  mouser. 

Mouse-trap,  n.     A  trap  for  catching  mice. 

Mousing,  adj.     Mouse  catching;  given  to  catching  mice. 

Mouth,  ;/.  To  make  a  mouth;  or  to  mouth,  to  distort  the 
mouth  in  mockery;  make  a  wry  face;  pout. 

Mouthfull,  u.  As  much  as  the  mouth  will  hold,  or  is  put  into 
the  mouth  at  one  time.     A  small  quantity. 

Move,  v.  To  change  residence:  as,  "We  move  next  week." 
Never  remove. 

Mow,  ;/.     An  insulting  grimace;  a  mock. 

Mowburn,  ;/.  Mowheat.  The  damage  done  by  the  heating 
of  hay  or  tobacco  when  put  in  bulk. 

Mower,  n.     One  who  mows;  a  mowing  machine. 

Much,  v.     To  make  much  of;  coax;  stroke  gently. 

Much,  v.  To  be  much;  valuable  in  some  capacity.  "Not 
much"  of  small  value. 

Much-what,  adj.  Nearly;  almost.  For  the  most  part.  "They 
are  all  much  ?rhaL' ' 

Muck  of  sweat,  u.  To  be  wet  with  sweat.  Excessive  perspi- 
ration. 

Mucky,  adj.     A  wet,  slimy  mass. 

Mud-dauber,  u.     A  digger  wasp;  a  mason. 

Muddle,  v.  To  make  foul,  turbid,  or  muddy,  as  water.  To 
bring  into  a  state  of  confusion;   make  a  mess  of. 

Muddle,  u.      Intellectual  confusion;  bewilderment;  cloudiness. 

Muddler,  ;/.  A  churning  stick  for  mixing  toddies,  made  of 
wood,  flattened  at  the  end  for  crushing  sugar,  and  a  handle 
to  hold  it  by. 


Mudflat— Mumbler.  247 

Mudflat,  n.  A  muddy,  low-lying  strip  of  ground  by  the  shore, 
or  an  island,  usually  under  water  by  the  rising  of  the  tide. 

Mud-hen,  n.     Same  as  marsh-hen. 

Mud-hole,  n.  A  place  full  of  mud;  a  depression  where  water 
and  mud  stand,  as  in  a  road. 

Mud-turkle,  ;/.  Mud-turtle;  the  name  of  various  turtles  that 
live  in  mud  or  muddy  water. 

Muffle,  v.  Wrap  up  or  cover  close,  particularly  the  neck  and 
face;  envelope  or  wrap  in  some  covering.  (2)  To  envelope 
more  or  less  completely  in  something  that  deadens  sound. 

Muffler,  ;/.  Anything  used  to  muffle  or  wrap  up;  a  woollen 
cravat  wound  several  times  around  the  neck,  and  worn  in 
cold  weather. 

Mug,  n.  A  small,  sylindrical  drinking  vessel,  made  of  earth- 
enware or  metal.      (2)  The  face:  as,  "  Ugly  mug. " 

Mulbriland,  n.     Mulbury  Island;  a  place  name. 

Mulish,  adj.  Having  the  characteristics  of  a  mule;  sullen; 
stubborn. 

Mullet,  )i.  Jumping  mullet,  a  fish  that  jumps  from  the  water 
when  startled,  and  blinded  by  a  light  at  night,  is  caught  by 
jumping  into  a  boat. 

Mullein,  ;/.     A  weed  with  thick,  woolly  leaves,  yellow  flowers. 

Mulligrubs,  n.  A  pain  in  the  intestines;  colic.  (2)  111  temper; 
sulkiness;  the  sulks:  as,  to  have  the  mulligrubs. 

Mum,  adj.     Silent. 

Mumble,  v.  To  speak  with  the  vocal  organs  partly  closed,  so 
as  to  render  the  sounds  inarticulate  and  imperfect;  speak 
in  low  tones,  deprecatingly  or  hesitatingly.  (2)  To  chew 
or  bite  softly  with  the  gums;  work  food  with  the  gums  on 
account  of  lack  of  teeth  or  their  defectiveness. 

Mumbler,  n.     One  who  mumbles. 


248  Mumble-the-peg — Music-box. 

Mumble-the-peg,  ;/.  A  boy's  game  in  which  each  player 
in  turn  throws  a  knife  from  a  series  of  positions,  continuing 
till  he  fails  to  make  the  blade  stick  in  the  ground.  The  last 
player  to  complete  the  series  is  compelled  to  draw  out  of 
the  ground  with  his  teeth  a  peg,  which  the  others  have 
driven  in  with  a  number  of  blows  with  the  handle  of  the 
knife  with  which  the  game  was  played. 

Mumbling,  n.  The  act  of  speaking  in  a  low  tone  or  with  the 
vocal  organs  partly  closed;  an  indistinct  utterance. 

Mumchance,  n.  One  who  has  not  a  word  to  say  for  himself; 
a  fool. 

Mummick,  v.  To  cut  awkwardly;  mess  or  make  a  mess  of: 
as,  he  mummicks  his  food.      Mommick.      Mommuck. 

Mummy,  «,  A  pulpy  mass.  "The  peaches  in  the  basket 
were  mashed  to  a  mummy." 

Mun,  n.  A  familiar  term  of  address  applied  to  persons  of  either 
sex  and  of  any  age.  Usually  at  the  end  of  a  sentence  and 
practically  expletive:  as,  "Mind  what  I'm  telling  you, 
mun."  '  Yes,  mun;"  used  to  give  emphasis  to  an  asser- 
tion. 

Munch,  v.    To  chew  deliberately  or  continuously;  chew  audibly. 

Murkle,  >i.      Myrtle,  the  name  of  a  tree. 

Munts,  ;/.  pi.     Months.     "I  have  not  seen  him  for  two  munis. " 

Mush,  n.  Meal  boiled  in  water  or  milk  until  it  forms  a  thick 
soft  mast:  as,  "mush  and  milk,"  a  preparation  made  from 
corn  meal. 

Mushmelon,  n.     Muskmelon. 

Mushroon,  ;/.  Never  with  mt  but  a  final  n.  An  eatable  fun- 
gus.     Musheron. 

Mushy,  adj.  Like  mush;  soft;  pulpy;  without  fibre  or  firm- 
ness. 

Music-box,;/.  A  mechanical  music  instrument.  Plays  certain 
tunes  on  being  wound  up  with  a  key. 


Muskmellon — Nag.  249 

Muskmellon,  n.     A  well  known  plant  and  its  fruit. 

Musrat,  n.  Muskrat.  A  large,  gnawing,  fourfooted  animal  so 
called  from  its  musky  smell.      Mussrat.      Musquagh. 

Musky,  adj.     Having  the  smell  of  musk. 

Muss,  ;/.  A  state  of  confusion;  disorder:  as,  the  things  are  all 
in  a  mass.     An  indiscriminate  fight;  a  squabble;  a  row. 

Muss,  n.     A  scramble;  disturbance;  uproar. 

Muss,  v.  To  put  in  a  state  of  disorder;  rumple;  tumble:  as, 
to  muss  one's  hair. 

Mussy,  adj.  Disorderly;  rumpled;  towsled.  (2)  A  form  of 
mercy:  as,  "  Lord  a  mussy." 

Muster-day,  n.  A  day  appointed  for  militia  training  in  bodies 
collected  from  different  places. 

Musty,  adj.  Mouldy;  sour:  as,  musty  corn,  or  straw;  "musty 
books." 

Mutter,  v.  To  utter  words  in  a  low  tone  and  with  compressed 
lips,  as  in  complaint  or  sullenness;  murmur;  grumble. 

Muttering,  ;/.  The  sound  made  by  one  who  mutters;  grum- 
bling; mumbling. 

Mutton-head,  ;/.     A  dull  or  stupid  person. 

Myring-branches,  n.pl.  " My 'ring-branches  of  a  river,"  were 
places  where  the  bottom  was  so  soft  that  animals  could  not 
cross  without  being  stuck  in  the  mud. 

Mutton-suet,  ;/.     The  fat,  dried  out  of  mutton. 

N 

Nab,  v.  To  catch  or  seize  suddenly  or  by  a  sudden  thrust  or 
grasp. 

Nabel,  n.     Nable.     For  nave/. 

Nag,  n.     A  horse,  especially  a  poor  or  small  horse. 

Nag,  v.  To  irritate  or  annoy  with  continued  scolding,  petty 
faultfinding,  or  urging;  pester  with  continual  complaints; 
torment;    worry. 


250  Nail— Nasty. 

Nail,  v.     To  secure  by  prompt  action;  catch. 

Naked-bed,  n.     A  bed  without  sheets,  and  not  a  naked  person 

in  bed;  it  does  not  seem  to  have  been  the  custom  to  sleep 

without  clothes. 

Name  after,  v.     To   give   one   person    the  name  of  another. 
"  He  is  named  John  after  his  father." 

Namesake,  n.  One  who  is  named  after  or  for  the  sake  of 
another;  hence,  one  who  has  the  same  name  as  another. 

Nankeen,  n.     A  sort  of  cotton  cloth  usually  of  a  yellow  colour. 

Nanny-goat,  n.     A  she-goat. 

Nap,  n.      Nape.     The  back,  upper  part  of  the  neck. 

Nap,  //.  The  woolly  substance  on  the  surface  of  cloth,  felt,  or 
other  fabric. 

Nap,  n.     A  short  sleep. 

Nap,  v.  To  have  a  short  sleep.  To  catch  one  napping.  To 
come  on  one  when  he  is  unprepared;  taken  at  a  disadvantage. 

Napper,  n.     The  pronunciation  of  the  surname  Napier. 

Nappy,  adj.  Covered  with  nap.  A  frock  made  of  nappy  cot- 
ton was  called  a  "  Nappy -cotton  gown." 

Narrow,  v.  In  knittings  to  reduce  the  number  of  stitches 
either  by  knitting  two  together  or  by  slipping  one  and  bind- 
ing it  over  the  next;  opposed  to  widen:  as,  to  narrow  a 
stocking  at  the  toe. 

Narrow-minded,  adj.  Of  confined  views  or  sentiments;  big- 
gotted;   illiberal. 

Nary,  adj.  A  form  of  ne'er  a,  never  a.  Ary,  e'er  a,  ever  a. 
Narry\  neither;  none. 

Nastiness,  //.  Disgusting  taste;  nauseousness.  That  which 
is  filthy.      Filth.       Nas'ness. 

Nasty,  adj.  Filthy;  dirty;  foul;  unclean.  Physically  filthy  or 
dirty.  Of  filthy  habits.  Nauseous;  disgusting  to  taste  or 
smell:  as,  a  nasty  medicine.  (2)  Mean;  dishonourable;  hate- 
ful: as,  a  nasty  trick. 


Natty— Neat.  251 

Natty,  adj.      Neat;  tidy;  spruce. 

Natural,  adj.  Legitimate.  Used  in  this  sense  in  the  County 
records;  as,  my  "  natural  daughter. "  Also:  "  My  natural 
mother." 

Natural-born,  adj.  So  by  nature;  born  so:  as,  "A  natural- 
born  fool." 

Naught,  n.     An  aught;  cipher;  zero. 

Naught,  adj.     Wicked;  bad  in  conduct;  improper  conduct. 

Naughty,  adj.  In  a  mitigated  sense,  bad  in  conduct  or  speech; 
improper;  mischievous;  used  with  reference  to  the  more  or 
less  venial  faults  or  delinquences  of  children,  or  playfully  to 
those  of  older  persons. 

Naval  officer, //.  In  the  Colonial  times,  an  officer  for  the  entry 
and  clearance  of  vessels,  and  other  official  business  connected 
with  the  administration  of  the  Navigation  Act. 

Nave,  ;;.     The  central  part  of  a  wheel  where  the  spokes  are 

put.      Hub. 
Naysay, ;/.     A  refusal.     "  He  wouldn't  take  a  naysay."     Right 

or  opportunity  of  refusal.      "  Give  me  the  naysay. " 

Near,  adj.  Closely  allied  by  blood;  closely  akin;  near  kin. 
Intimate;  united  in  close  ties  of  affection  or  confidence; 
familiar:  as,  a  near  friend.  (2)  So  as  to  barely  escape 
injury,  danger  or  exposure;  close.  (3)  Economical;  closely 
calculating;  also  close;  parsimonious;  stingy. 

Near-by,  adj.     Close  at  hand;  not  far  off;  neighbouring. 

Near  chance,  //.  A  near  miss;  a  close  shave.  "  It  was  the 
nearest  chance  in  the  world  that  we  didn't  turn  over." 

Near-sighted,  adj.  Short-sighted;  seeing  distinctly  at  a  short 
distance  only. 

Neat,  adj.  Characterized  by  nicety  of  appearance,  construc- 
tion, arrangement,  etc.;  nice;  hence,  orderly;  trim;  tidy; 
often  specifically  clean:  as,  neat  in  one's  dress.  Spruce; 
finical;  over-nice.  (2)  Simple;  undiluted;  to  take  liquor 
without  water. 


252  Neatly — Nest-egg. 

Neatly,  adv.  In  a  neat  manner;  with  neatness,  in  any  sense  of 
the  word. 

Neat's-foot-oil,  n.     The  oil  gotten  from  the  feet  of  neat-cattle. 

Necessary,  ;/.     A  privy.     Necessary-honse. 

Neck,  //.  A  piece  of  dry  land  running  between  two  creeks  or 
rivers;  or  between  two  marshes.      "The  Neck.'" 

Neck'ed,  adj.  Naked;  without  any  clothes  on  at  all.  "He 
was  as  neck'ed  as  he  could  be."  "  She  was  walking  on  the 
neck'ed  floor." 

Neckhankercher,  n.     A  neck-tie. 

Need-be,  n.  Something  compulsory,  indispensable,  or  requi- 
site; a  necessity. 

Needle,  n.  Needlefull;  the  length  of  thread  used  at  one  time 
in  a  needle.      "  Give  me  a  needle  of  black  silk." 

Needle-wires,  n.  pi.      Knitting-needles. 

Neet,  adj.      For  net.      "  Neet  proceeds. " 

Negro-fellow,  n.  A  full  grown  negro  man  to  distinguish  from 
wenches  and  children. 

Negrofy,  v.  Nigrify.  To  turn  into  a  negro.  Negrohed.  To 
become  like  a  negro  in  thoughts  and  deeds. 

Negro-news,  n.  News  carried  about  by  negroes.  It  is  almost 
equal  to  the  telegraph  in  the  rapidity  of  transmission. 

Neighbourly,^//.  Becoming  a  neighbour;  kind;  considerate. 
Cultivating  familiar  intercourse,  interchanging,  visits;  social. 
"  He  is  a  neighbourly  man." 

Neither,  adj.     Never  wither. 

Nesses,  n.  pi.      Plural  of  nest.      "  Two  hen  nessesfuW  of  eggs." 

Nest,  ;/.  A  series  or  set,  as  of  boxes,  baskets,  trays,  bowls, 
tubs,  etc.,  of  diminishing  sizes  each  fitting  within  the  next 
in  order. 

Nest-egg,  n.  An  egg,  natural  or  artificial  put  or  left  in  a  nest 
to  prevent  a  laying  hen  from  forsaking  her  nest.      (2)  Some- 


Nettle— Nice.  253 

thing  laid  up  as  the  beginning  or  nucleus  of  a  continued 
growth  or  accummulation. 

Nettle,  v.  Irritate  or  vex;  provoke;  pique.  "  He  was  very 
much  nettled  by  what  she  said." 

Nevue,  n.     Form  of  nephew. 

Newcomer,  //.     One  who  has  lately  come  to  a  neighbourhood. 

Newfangle,  n.     A  new  or  novel  fashion;  a  novelty. 

Newfangled,  adj.  Disposed  to  take  up  new  things;  fond  of 
change.  New  made  or  new  fashioned;  formed  with  affec- 
tation of  novelty. 

New-fashion,  n.  Recently  come  into  fashion;  newfashioned; 
novel. 

Newfashioned,  adj.  Made  in  a  new  form  or  style,  or  lately 
come  into  fashion. 

New-ground,  n.  New  land  clearing,  but  not  fully  cleared  and 
ready  for  cultivation. 

New-hand,  n.  A  person  newly  come  to  the  country  and  not 
seasoned. 

Newish,  adj.     Rather  new. 

News,  n.  Gossip;  something  new:  as,  "That's  news  to 
me. 

News,  v.  To  report;  rumour:  as,  "  It  was  newsed  about  that 
something  had  happened." 

Newsy,  adj.  Having  the  latest  and  fullest  news:  as,  "  it  is  a 
very  newsy  paper. "      "  What  a  newsy  woman  she  is. ' ' 

Nibble,  v.  To  bite  very  slightly  or  gently;  bite  off  small  pieces 
of. 

Nibbler,  ;/.      One  who  nibbles;  one  who  bites  a  little  at  a  time. 

Nice,  adj.  Fastidious;  very  particular  or  scrupulous;  dainty; 
difficult  to  please  or  satisfy;  exacting;  squeamish.  Agree- 
able; pleasant;  good;  applied  to  persons.  Anything  that 
is  gratifying:   "  nice  and  warm;  "  "  nice  and  clean." 


254  Nicely — Nightmare. 

Nicely,  adv.     Satisfactorily:  as,  the  work  goes  on  nicely. 

Nicety,  n.  Fastidiousness;  extreme  or  excessive  delicacy; 
squeamishness.  Delicacy;  exactness;  accuracy;  precision. 
To  a  nicety,  to  a  turn ;  with  great  exactness. 

Nick,  n.  A  hollow  cut  or  slight  depression  made  in  the  surface 
of  anything;  a  notch.  Point,  especially  point  of  time:  as, 
in  the  nick  of;  that  is,  on  the  point  of  being  or  doing  some- 
thing. The  exact  point  of  time  which  accords  with  or  is 
demanded  by  the  necessities  of  the  case;  the  critical  or  right 
moment:  in  the  nick  of  time,  that  is,  at  the  right  moment, 
just  when  most  needed  or  demanded. 

Nick,  v.  To  cut  the  sinews  in  a  horse's  tail  to  make  him  carry 
it  higher. 

Nick,  n.      Old  Nick,  the  devil. 

Nicker,  v.     To  make  the  cry  of  a  horse;  to  neigh. 

Nickname,  n.  A  name  given  to  a  person  in  contempt,  deris- 
ion or  reproach.     A  familiar  or  diminutive  name. 

Nickname,  v.  To  call  by  an  improper  or  opprobious  name. 
To  apply  a  familiar  or  diminutive  name. 

Nigh,  adj.      Penurious;  stingy;  close;  near. 

Nigh,  adv.     Near.      "  We  are  nigh  home  now." 

Night,  n.  After  dark — not  evening.  Night  begins  as  the  sun 
goes  down. 

Night-cap,  ;/.  A  drink  of  spirit  or  wine  taken  before  going  to 
bed. 

Night-clothes,  n.  pi.     Garments  designed  to  be  worn  at  night. 

Night-fall,  ;/.     The  fall  of  night;  the  close  of  day;  evening. 

Night-glass,  n.     A  chaamber-pot. 

Nightlong,  adv.     Through  the  night.      All  nightlong. 

Nightmare,  //.  An  oppressed  state  during  sleep.  Any  over- 
powering, oppressive,  or  stupefying  influence. 


Night-partridge — Nobody.  255 

Night-partridge,  n.     The  American  woodcock. 

Night-rail,  n.     Night-raile.     A  night  gown. 

Nights,  adv.     At  night;  by  night. 

Night-walking,  adj.     Walking  about  at  night. 

Nigrified,  adj.  A  mean  action,  term  of  contempt.  Acting 
like  a  negro. 

Nimble,  adj.  Light  and  quick  in  motion;  active;  moving  with 
ease  and  celerity;  marked  by  ease  and  rapidity  of  motion; 
livelv;  swift. 

Nimbly,  adv.  In  a  nimble  manner;  with  agility;  with  light, 
quick  motion. 

Nincompoop,  n.     A  fool;  a  blockhead;  a  simpleton. 

Nine-lived,  adj.  Having  nine  lives  as  a  cat  is  said  to  have; 
hence,  not  easy  to  kill;  escaping  great  perils  or  surviving 
grave  wounds  or  hurts. 

Ninny,  ;/.     A  fool;  a  simpleton. 

Nip,  n.  A  sip  or  small  draught,  especially  of  some  strong  spir- 
itous  beverage:  as,  a  nip  of  brandy. 

Nip,  v.     To  take  a  dram  or  nip. 

Nip,  v.  To  blast,  as  by  frost;  destroy;  check  the  growth  or 
vigour  of.      "  The  fruit  was  nipped  by  the  frost." 

Nip,  v.     To  pinch  with  the  fingers  or  nails. 

Nipcheese,  n.  A  person  of  cheese  paring  habits;  a  skinflint; 
a  niggardly  person. 

Nipping-frost,  ;/.  A  heavy  frost  that  nips  or  destroys  vegeta- 
tion. 

Nip-tide,  n.  Neap-tide.  Lowest  point  of  tide.  Adj.  When 
tides  are  at  their  lowest. 

Nit,  ;/.     The  egg  of  a  louse,  or  similar  insect. 

No-account,  adj.      Worthless.      "  He  is  very  no-account. " 

Nobody,  n.  An  unimportant  or  insignificant  person;  one  who 
is  not  in  fashionable  society. 


256  Nod— Noses. 

Nod,  n.  A  short,  quick,  forward  and  downward  motion  of  the 
head,  as  when  one  is  drowsy  or  sleepy.  "In  the  land  of 
nod,'"  gone  to  sleep. 

Nod,  v.  To  salute,  beckon,  or  express  assent  by  a  slight, 
quick  inclination  of  the  head. 

Noddle,  n.     The  head. 

Noggin,  n.  A  vessel  of  wood,  with  iron  or  brass  hoops  that  is 
kept  near  a  tub  of  water,  used  for  washing  hands,  mostly  for 
children. 

Noggin,  v.  To  cut  the  hair  straight  round  as  if  a  noggin  had 
been  turned  over  the  head  to  cut  by;  the  blue-law  cap 
method. 

No  go,  adv.  Impracticable;  of  no  use;  not  to  be  done.  "  He 
tried,  but  it  was  no  go,  he  couldn't." 

Nohow,  adv.      In  no  manner;  not  in  any  way;  not  at  all. 

Noint,  v.  Nint.  To  annoint.  To  beat  severely.  "  Ninted 
scoundrel;"  very  bad,  "annointed  by  the  Devil." 

Noisy,  adj.  Full  of  noise;  characterized  by  noise;  attended 
with  noise:  as,  a  noisy  place. 

No'm.      For  "  no  madam." 

Nonesuch,  ;/.  An  extraordinary  thing;  a  thing  that  has  not 
its  equal. 

Nonplus,  v.  To  perplex;  puzzle;  confound;  put  to  a  stand- 
still; stop  by  embarrassment. 

Nonsense,  ;/.     Trifles;  things  of  no  importance. 

Norate,  v.     To  rumour;  spread  by  report.     Norated. 

Noration,  n.  A  rumour;  a  long,  rambling  account.  "She 
put  out  the  noration  that  there  would  be  a  dance  there  next 
week." 

Northeaster,  n.     A  wind  or  gale  from  the  northeast. 

Noses,  ;/.  />/.  To  count  noses,  to  count  the  number  of  persons 
present. 


Nose-bleed — Nuss.  257 

Nose-bleed,  n.     Bleeding  at  the  nose. 

Nother,  n.      "  You  are  a  nother." 

N other,  adj.     An  other. 

Nother,  adj.     Same  as  neither. 

1  Nothing  but,  adv.     Only;  no  more  than. 

Nothing  much,  adv.  Very  little;  not  very  much.  "What 
are  you  doing  at  home?  "      "Nothing  much." 

Notion,  n.  A  desire,  inclination,  intention,  or  sentiment, 
generally  not  very  deep  or  rational;  a  caprice;  a  whim. 
Opinion;  idea.      "  I  have  a  notion  he'll  do  it." 

No  two  ways,  n.  Only  one  way  to  do  a  thing;  a  positive  as- 
sertion. "I'll  not  allow  it,  there  are  no  two  ways  about 
that." 

Nowadays,  adv.  In  these  days;  in  the  present  age. 

Now-and-again,  adv.  Sometimes.  "He  comes  now- and  - 
again." 

Noways,  adv.      In  no  way,  respect,  or  degree;  not  at  all. 

Nub,  n.  A  knob;  a  protuberance;  a  small  lump  of  any  sub- 
stance, roundish  in  form. 

Nubbin,  n.     A  small  or  imperfect  ear  of  corn. 

Nubby,  adj.      Full  of  nubs,  knots,  or  protuberances. 

Nudge,  n.  A  slight  push  as  with  the  elbow;  a  covert  jog  in- 
tended to  call  attention,  giving  warning,  or  the  like. 

Nudge,  v.  To  touch  gently,  as  with  the  elbow;  give  a  hint  or 
signal  to  by  a  covert  touch  with  the  hand,  elbow,  or  foot. 

Numb,  adj.  Deprived  of  the  power  of  sensation  as  from  a 
stoppage  of  the  circulation;  torpid;  hence,  stupefied;  pow- 
erless to  feel  or  act:  as,  fingers  numb  with  cold. 

Numskull,  n.     A  dunce;  a  dolt;  a  stupid  fellow. 

Nuss,  n.  A  nurse,  generally  one  who  takes  care  of  a  child. 
"  I've  been  nuss  for  all  these  children." 

Nuss,  v.      Nurse;  to  suckle  a  child. 

17 


258  Nuts— Odd-time. 

Nuts,  n.  pi.     The  testicles. 

Nuts,  n.  pi.     Something  especially  agreeable  or  enjoyable. 
Nuver,  adj.     Never.      "I  ^/c'<?rsaw  anything  like  that  before." 

Nuzzle,  v.  To  fondle  closely  as  a  child. 

O 

Oak-apple,  n.     The  oak  gall. 

Oats,  n.  pi.  To  sow  one  s  ivild  oats,  to  indulge  in  youthful  ex- 
cesses; practice  the  dissipations  to  which  some  are  prone  in 
the  early  part  of  life. 

Oben,  n.     Oven. 

Obleege,  v.     To  oblige. 

Obligate,  v.  To  place  under  obligations  in  any  way,  as  on  ac- 
count of  continued  favours  or  repeated  acts  of  [kindness; 
made  beholden  or  indebted. 

Obrade,  v.      Form  of  upbraid. 

Occomy,  n.  A  mixed  metal  something  like  brass  used  for 
making  spoons,  etc.      "  Occomy  spoons. "      Ocamy. 

Oceans,  n.     A  very  large  quantity.      "  Oceans  of  money." 

Odd,  adj.      Having  a  singular  look. 

Odd-come-short,  ;/.  Some  day  soon  to  come;  an  early  day; 
some  time;  any  time.  "  I'll  give  it  back  to  you  some  of 
these  odd-come-shorts." 

Odd-jobs,  n.  pi.  Various  small  things  on  a  farm,  or  in  a  large 
household,  which  require  doing,  but  belong  to  no  Derson';- 
regular  work. 

Odds,  ;/.  pi.     Difference:  as,  "What's  the  odds  f" 

Odds  and  ends,  n      Small  miscellaneous  articles. 

Odd-time,  n.  A  time  by  chance;  leisure;  spare  moment.  "  I'll 
do  it  at  some  odd-time." 


Offal— Old  batch.  259 

Offal,  n.  Those  parts  of  a  butchered  animal  which  are  small  in 
size,  and  not  worth  salting:  as,  harselet,  etc. 

Offer,  n.  To  make  as  though  you  were  going  to  do  a  thing; 
an  attempt.  "  He  made  an  offer  to  hit  him."  "  If  he  offers 
to  walk  his  legs  give  way  and  he  falls  down." 

Off-and-on,  adv.     Occasionally;  now  and  then. 

Offhand,  adj.  Without  study  or  premeditation;  impromptu. 
Free  and  easy;  unstudied  or  unconventional. 

Offhand,  adv.  At  once;  without  deliberation  or  premedita- 
tion; without  previous  preparation  or  practice.  (2)  From 
the  hand;  without  the  support  of  a  rest. 

Offhanded,  adj.     Offhand;  without  hesitation. 

Officious,  adj.  Forward  in  tending  services;  zealous  in  inter- 
posing uninvited  in  the  affairs  of  others;  meddling;  obtru- 
sive. 

Offish,  adj.  Distant  in  manner;  reserved;  inclined  to  keep 
aloof;  shy. 

Offscouring,  n.  Rejected  matter;  refuse;  that  which  is  vile  or 
despised. 

Offscum,  adj.     Vile;  refuse. 

Ofn,  adv.  For  often.  Prep.  Off  of.  "The  shell  isn't  ofn 
their  heads  yet."     Meaning  young  and  immature. 

Oftentimes,  adv.     Ofttimes;  frequently;  many  times;  often. 

Oil,  v.     To  rub  or  smear  over  with  oil. 

Oil-bag,  n.     In  animals,  a  bag,  cyst,  or  gland  containing  oil. 

Oily,  adj.  Unctuous;  smooth;  insinuating  and  smoothly  sanc- 
timonious; blandly  pious;  fawning. 

Oint,  v.     To  anoint;  to  smear  with  some  fatty  preparation. 

Okra,  n.     A  plant,  an  esteemed  vegetable,  cultivated  for  food. 

Old,  adj.     Great;  high:  as,  "A  high  old  time." 

Old  batch,  n.  An  "old  batchelor."  "Bachelor"  is  nearly 
always  preceded  by  old. 


260  Old  boy— Ones. 

Old  boy,  n.     The  devil. 

Old-fashioned,  adj.  Formed  in  a  fashion  that  has  become  ob- 
solete; antiquated.  Characterized  by  or  resembling'  a  per- 
son of  mature  years,  judgment,  and  experience;  hence, 
precocious:  as,  an  old-fashioned  child. 

Old-field,  n.  Cleared  land,  at  some  distance  from  the  house, 
and  possibly  without  any  crop  on  it;  cattle  and  sheep  graze 
about  in  the  old-field. 

Old-field  lark,  n.     A  bird,  field-lark. 

Old-field  pine,  n.     Second  growth  pine. 

Old-heads,  n.  pi.  The  old  people  of  the  neighbourhood.  "  I 
have  always  heard  the  old-heads  say  so." 

Old  Scratch,  n.     The  devil. 

Old  Sledge,  n.     A  game  of  cards,  "all  fours,"  or  "seven  up." 

Old-soldiers,  n.  pi.  Ends  of  cigars  and  quids  of  tobacco  that 
have  been  used. 

Old-stager,  n.  Some  person,  animal,  or  thing  that  has  been 
long  in  use. 

Oldster,  ;/.     An  old  or  oldish  person;  a  man  past  middle  life. 

Old-time,  adj.  Of  old  times;  having  the  characteristics  of  old 
times;  of  the  old  school;  of  long  standing.      Old-timiness. 

Old-wife,  n.     Alewife;  a  fish.     Of  the  herring  tribe. 

Old-woman  picking  her  geese,  v.     Snowing. 

On,/)^v/).  For  of.  "  They  tell  stories  ^  her."  "Lest  they 
should  tell  on  us."      I  Sam.  xxvii,  ii. 

On.  A  prefix,  is  un;  as,  ondo,  for  undo;  ondress,  for  undress; 
ontie.      "  Don't  you  see  your  shoe  is  onlied." 

One-horse,  adj.  Petty;  on  a  small  scale;  of  limited  capacity 
or  resources;  inferior. 

On  end,  adv.     Upright;  perpendicular. 

Ones,  ;/.  pi.  Several  individuals:  as,  the  big  ones  were  all  on 
one  side,  the  small  ones  on  the  other. 


One  side — Opodeldoc.  261 

One  side,  adv.  To  put  a  thing  on  one  side  is  to  put  it  away, 
decline  or  reject  it. 

One-sided,  adj.      Partial;  unjust;  unfair. 

On  hand,  adv.     At  hand;  present. 

Oniony,  adj.  Of  the  nature  of  onions;  resembling  or  smelling 
of  onions. 

Onless,  conj.     Form  of  unless. 

On't,  v.     Won't;  will  not.      "/on't."      "  He  orit  do  it. " 

On  the  hip,  adv.     At  advantage.      "  He  had  him  on  the  hip." 

Ontie,  v.     To  untie;  unfasten. 

Ontied,  past  part.  A  particularly  unmanagable  person  is  called 
"  a  Turk  ontied." 

Onto,  prep.  Towards  and  upon:  as,  the  door  opens  directly 
onto  the  street.     To  the  top  of;  upon;  on. 

Ooze,  n.     Soft  mud. 

Oozy,  adj.     Soft,  said  of  ground. 

Open,  v.  To  remove  the  shell  of,  as  an  oyster.  To  yield  or 
make  a  certain  quantity  when  opened:  as,  to  open  well  or 
badly;  to  open  at  the  rate  of  six  quarts  to  the  bushel. 

Open-clock,  n.  A  flower,  open  at  some  hours  of  the  day  and 
closed  at  other.  The  blooms  open  in  the  morning  and  close 
at  12  o'clock. 

Open-handed,  adj.     Generous;  libera);  munificent. 

Open-hearted,  adj.     Candid;  frank;  sincere;  not  sly. 

Opening,  n.     The  beginning  of  a  "clearing"  in  a  new  country. 

Open-peach,  n.     A  peach  that  leaves  the  seed  easily. 

Open-sow,  n.     A  sow  left  unspayed  to  breed. 

Open-weather,  n.  Weather  in  winter  when  the  water  and 
ground  are  not  frozen.     Open  winter. 

Opodeldoc,  n.     Soap-liniment. 


262  Order — Outdacious. 

Order,  n.  Out  of  order.  In  confusion  or  disorder:  as,  the 
room  is  out  of  order.  (2)  Not  in  an  efficient  condition:  as, 
the   watch  is  out  of  order.     (3)  Sick ;  unwell ;  indisposed. 

Ordinary,  n.  Ornary.  A  tavern;  an  eating-house  where  there 
is  a  fixed  price  for  meals.  They  used  to  be  found  on  the 
old  stage  roads  where  horses  were  changed,  and  meals 
served. 

Ore,  //.  Oare;  seaweeds  washed  up  on  the  shores  and  used  for 
manure. 

Oreweed,  n.  Sea  ore.  Seaweeds  washed  ashore  by  the  tides; 
sea-wrack,  used  for  manure. 

Ornary,;/.  Ordinary;  a  tavern.  "Burnt  Ornary."  "  Six- 
mile  ornary." 

Ornary,  adj.  Ordinary;  ugly;  not  handsome.  Ornery.  (2) 
Ornary,  mean. 

Oronoko, //.     Oronoco.     Aronoko.     A  coarse  sort  of  tobacco. 

Orphline,  //.      Orflin.     An  orphan. 

Osnbrigs,  n.     A  kind  of  coarse,  unbleached  cotton  cloth. 

Otherways,  adv.     Otherwise. 

Other-world,  n.     The  world  of  the  dead;  the  world  to  come. 

Our,  poss.  pron.  To  show  one's  connection  with  the  family. 
"Our  Mary."      "Our  Tom."      "  Your  Bob." 

Ourn,  pron.     Ours. 

Out,;/.       Progress.       "He   has   not   made   much   out  towards 

making  a  living." 
Out-at-elbows,  adj.     Worn  out:  threadbare;  used  up. 
Outballance,  v.     To  outweigh;  exceed  in  weight  or  effect. 
Outbrag,  v.     To  surpass  in  bragging  or  bravado;  outbrave. 
Outcry,  >/.     An  auction.      "  To  be  sold  at  public  outcry." 
Outcure,  <\     To  cure  more  sick  people  than  any  other  remedy. 
Outdacious,  adj.      Audacious;  bold;  impudent;  forward. 


Outdone— Pacify.  263 

Outdone,  v.  To  be  outdone,  annoyed  or  vexed,  provoked  at 
something  said  or  done  by  another.  "  He  was  very  much 
outdone  by  what  the  boy  said." 

Out  of  the  way,  adv.  Not  well  done;  vicious.  "He  has 
never  done  anything-  out  of  the  zuay. ' ' 

Out  of  his  head.  Saying  applied  to  a  delirious  person;  or  a 
crazy  one. 

Over  the  river,  Phrase  used  to  designate  the  south  side  of 
the  James  river.  "He  lives  over  the  river."  "  They  are 
over  the  river  folks. ' ' 

Overcoat,  n.  "  It  is  a  whole  overcoat  colder  than  it  was  yester- 
day." 

Overnight,;;.  The  night  before.  "The  dough  should  be 
made  up  overnight.'''' 

Overplus,  ;;.      Excess. 

Own,  adj.  Showing  nearest  relationship:  as,  "  Own  cousin," 
for,  first  cousin;  "own  brother;"  "own  uncle."  "The 
young  people  just  married  were  ozvn  cousins." 

Ox-team,  ;/.     One  or  more  yokes  of  oxen  worked  together. 

Oyes,  v.  The  sheriff  opened  the  Court  by  saying:  "  Oyes,  oyes, 
oyes,  silence  is  commanded  under  pain  of  imprisonment 
while  the  worshipful  justices  of  Warwick  County  hold  their 
court.      God  save  the  Commonwealth." 

Oyster-eating,  /;.  Where  a  number  of  friends  gathered  on  the 
shore  to  roast  and  eat  oysters. 

P 

Pa,  n.     A  childish  form  of  papa. 

Pace,  ;;.  A  gait  of  a  horse,  in  which  the  legs  of  the  same  side 
are  lifted  together. 

Pace,  v.  To  move  by  lifting  both  feet  on  the  same  side  to- 
gether. 

Pacify,  v.-  To  appease;  calm;  quiet;  allay  the  agitation  or  ex- 
citement of. 


264  Pack — Palaver. 

Pack,  n.  A  collection;  a  budget;  a  stock  or  store:  as,  a  pack 
of  lies.  The  whole  nnmber  of  persons  in  any  category:  as, 
the  whole  pack  of  them. 

Pack,  v.  To  send  off  or  away  summarily;  specifically,  to  dis- 
miss or  discharge  from  one's  employment;  with  off,  away, 
etc. :  as,  to  pack  off  an  impudent  servant.  To  depart  in 
haste,  as  when  summarily  dismissed;  be  off  at  once. 

Pad,  n.  A  path;  a  footpath;  a  road.  (2)  To  be  on  the  pad, 
to  be  on  the  go  all  the  time. 

Paddies,  n.  />/.      Pantalets  or  knee-drawers  with  flounces. 

Paddle,  n.  An  implement  having  a  short  blade  and  long  han- 
dle, held  in  the  hands,  not  resting  in  the  rowlock,  and  dipped 
into  the  water  with  a  more  or  less  vertical  motion;  used  for 
propelling  canoes. 

Paddle,  v.  To  chastise  by  beating  on  the  buttocks  with  a  pad- 
dle. 

Paddle,  v.  To  wade  in  shallow  water.  "  What  are  you  doing 
paddling  about  in  the  water  like  that  ?  ' ' 

Paddle,  v.  To  trample  about  in  the  wet  and  dirt:  these  chil- 
dren are  always  paddling  about  in  the  mud. 

Pail,  n.  A  vessel  of  wooden  staves,  nearly  or  quite  cylindrical, 
with  a  looped  handle,  used  for  carrying  water,  milk  or  other 
liquid.      Pale. 

Pailfull,  >i.     The  quantity  that  a  pail  will  hold. 

Painter,  n.  A  rope  attached  to  the  bow  of  a  boat,  and  used  to 
fasten  it  to  a  stake,  or  ship,  or  other  object. 

Painty,  adj.     Smeared  or  spotted  with  paint:  as.  "  His  clothes 

are  painty." 
Pair-of-bars,  n.       Poles  made  to  draw  out  of  posts  with  large 

holes  morticed  in  them,  and  placed  on  each  side  of  the  road 

to  let  a  cart  pass  through. 

Palaver,  //.      Mattery;  adulation;  talk  intended  to  deceive. 
Palaver,  :•.     To  talk  idly  or  plausibly;  indulge  in  palaver. 


Palaverer — Pantalets.  265 

Palaverer,  n.  One  who  palavers;  a  cajoling  or  flattering  per- 
son. 

Palings,  n.  pi.  Pales.  The  yard  was  enclosed  with  oak  pal- 
ings. 

Pall,  v.  To  lose  taste,  life  or  spirit;  become  insipid;  hence,  to 
become  distastefull,  wearisome.  To  make  spiritless;  dis- 
pirit; depress;  weaken;  impair. 

Pallet,  n.  A  bed  on  the  floor  made  up  with  quilts,  or  blankets, 
sheets  and  a  pillow,  on  which  children  of  a  house  were  put 
to  sleep  while  visitors  occupied  their  beds. 

Palm-leaf  fan,  n.  A  fan  made  from  a  dried  palm  leaf,  partic- 
ularly from  the  leaf  of  the  fan-palm,  or  of  the  palmetto. 

Pamper,  v.  To  feed  high,  enjoy  ease  and  do  no  work.  Horses 
that  stand  in  the  stable,  are  well  fed  and  do  little,  are  said  to 
ho.  pampered. 

Pan,  n.  A  broad,  shallow  vessel  of  tin,  iron,  or  other  metal, 
used  for  various  domestic  purposes. 

Pancake,  n.  A  thin  cake  of  batter  fried  or  baked  in  a  pan  or 
on  a  griddle. 

Pancake-day,  n.  Shrove  Tuesday;  so  called  because,  accord- 
ing to  an  old  custom,  pancakes  are  eaten  on  that  day. 

Panel,  ;/.     A  jury. 

Pan-fish,  n.  A  fish  of  the  right  size  or  quality  for  frying 
whole  in  a  pan,  being  from  six  to  ten  inches  long. 

Pannel,  n.  The  space  between  two  locks  of  a  worm  fence;  or 
between  two  posts  of  a  post  and  rail  fence. 

Pansy,  n.     The  heartsease. 

Pant,  v.  To  breathe  hard  or  quickly;  gasp  with  open  mouth 
and  heaving  breast,  as  after  exertion ;  gasp  with  excited 
eagerness. 

Pantalets,  n.  pi.  Long  frilled  drawers,  worn  by  women  and 
girls.     A   false    or   adjustable   prolongation  of  the  legs   of 


266  Pap— Passage. 

women's  drawers,  renewed  for  neatness  as  is  done  with  culls 
and  the  like:  worn  about  1840-50. 

Pap,  n.  Soft  food  for  infants,  usually  made  by  boiling  milk  till 
much  of  the  water  is  evaporated. 

Pappy,  adj.      Like  pap;  soft. 

Pappy,  n.      Papa;  father.     A  childish  word. 

Parboil,  v.     To  boil  slightly  or  in  a  moderate  degree. 

Pardner,  n.     A  form  of  partner. 

Parish-levy,  n.  The  money  levied  by  the  county  for  help  for 
the  poor;  as  the  poor  were  formerly  cared  for  by  the  vestry 
of  the  parish. 

Parrot-toed,  adj.  Parry-toed,  with  the  toes  turned  in  in  walk- 
ing. 

Parsley-bed,  n.  Children  are  told  that  babies  are  dug  out  of 
the  parsley-bed. 

Parster,  ;/.      For  pasture.      "  The  horses  are  all  in  the  parster." 

Partial,  adj.  To  be  partial  to  anything,  means  to  like  it;  gen- 
erally in  the  sense  of  relishing.  "She  is  very  partial  to 
strawberries  and  cream." 

Partridge,  >i.  A  well  known  bird;  the  name  quail  is  never 
used  for  this  bird. 

Parts,  n.  pi.  Fractions  of  quantity  or  space.  "  The  bowl  was 
three  parts  full;  "    "  the  theatre  was  three  parts  full." 

Pasley,  n.      Parsley. 

Pasnip,  n.      Pasnep,  for  parsnip. 

Pas'on,  //.      For  parso?i. 

Pass,  //.     State  or  condition.      "  A  pretty  pass." 

Pass,  ;/.      A  discharge  from  the  bowels. 

Pass,  v.      To  discharge  from  the  intestinal  canal;  void,  as  bile, 

blood,  etc. :  as.  to  pass  a  tape-worm. 

Passage,  ;/.      A  discharge  from  the  bowels. 


Passage— Patch.  267 

Passage,  ;/.  An  avenue  or  alley  leading  to  the  various  divisions 
or  apartments  in  a  building.     Hall  not  generally  used. 

Pass-by,  n.     The  act  of  passing  by:  as,  to  give  one  the  pass-by. 

Passel,  7i.  An  indefinite  number,  quantity,  or  measure  forming 
a  group,  mass,  or  lot.     A  whole  passel.     Passle. 

Passer-by,  n.     One  who  passes  by  or  near. 

Passionate,  adj.  Easily  moved  to  vehement  emotion,  especially 
to  anger;  easily  excited  or  agitated. 

Pasture,  v.  To  put  cattle  to  graze:  as,  "I've  just  begun  to 
pasture  my  cattle  on  the  clover." 

Pat,  ;/.  A  light  quick  blow  or  stroke  with  the  hand  or  fingers. 
"A  pat  on  the  head." 

Pat,  v.  To  strike  gently  with  the  fingers  or  hand;  tap.  "  I 
had  to  get  up  and  pat  you  to  sleep."  To  pat  juba,  to  pat 
the  knee  or  thigh  with  the  hands  as  an  accompaniment  of 
the  juba-dance. 

Pat,  adv.  Fitly;  conveniently;  just  in  the  nick;  exactly;  read- 
ily; fluently.      "  He  has  got  it  all  very  pat." 

Pat,  adj.  Apt;  fit;  convenient;  exactly  suitable  as  to  either 
time  or  place;  ready;  fluent. 

Pat,  ;/.  A  small  lump,  as  of  butter,  moulded  or  pressed  into 
some  regular  shape. 

Patch,  n.  Any  piece  of  material  used  to  repair  a  defective  place 
in  some  fabric,  as  a  piece  of  cloth  sewed  on  a  garment  where 
it  is  worn  or  torn.  (2)  A  small  piece  of  ground,  especiallv 
one  under  cultivation;  a  small  detached  piece:  "potato 
patch."  A  small  quantity  of  any  growing  crop:  " patch  of 
cotton." 

Patch,  v.  To  mend  in  an  imperfect  manner  to  serve  a  tempo- 
rary purpose. 

Patch,  n.  A  small  piece  of  thin  cotton  or  linen  cloth,  greased 
and  used  for  making  the  ball  fit  tight  in  muzzle-loading  rifles. 


268  Patching— Pea. 

Patching,  n.  "That  isn't  a  patching  to  him  "  ;  said  of  a  thing 
that  seems  to  fall  short  of  what  it  is  intended  to  fullfill. 

Pate,  >i.  In  general,  the  head;  the  noddle.  Usually  employed 
in  a  trivial  or  derogatory  sense. 

Pated,  adj.  Having  a  pate  or  head  of  this  or  that  kind:  as, 
\ong-fiated,  cunning. 

Patent,  >i.  The  document  by  which  land  was  given  to  first  set- 
tlers by  the  Colonial  Governors.  These  patents  from  1626, 
are.  registered  in  the  capitol. 

Patent,  v.     To  grant  land  by  the  Governor  to  settlers.       '  Land 

patented  to  T.  W.,  in  1660." 
Patron,  n.      ¥  ox  pattern.     A  model  or  plan. 

Patteroller,  n.  A  patroller.  Authority  was  given  by  the 
justices  of  the  peace  to  hunt  for  thieves  and  nightwalkers 
who  were  punished  when  caught. 

Patty-cake,  n.  A  children's  game  played  by  patting  the  hands 
together  to  a  nursery  rime.      Pat-a-cake. 

Paunch,  n.       The    belly;    the   abdomen;    the    stomach  of  an 

animal. 
Paunchy,  adj.      Having  a  prominent  paunch;  big-bellied. 

Pavele,  n.     (?)     "  For  every  pound  of  Pavele  Sugar  one  penny 

Custom." 
Paw,  n.     The  human  hand,  especially  when  large  or  coarse,  or 

when  awkwardly  used. 
Paw,  v.     To  handle  roughly  or  clumsily,  as  with  paws. 
Pay,  v.      "  What's  to  pay?"     What  is  the  matter? 

Pay,  v.  To  coat  or  cover  with  tar  or  pitch,  or  with  a  composi- 
tion of  tar,  resin,  turpentine,  tallow,  and  the  like:  as,  to 
pay  a  seam. 

Pea,  n.     Name  given  by  boys  to  a  little  marble. 

Pea,  n.  A  pear  shaped  mass  of  iron  hung  on  the  arm  of  steel- 
yards  and  slid  along,  when  b'allancing  the  thing  weighed 
the  weight  is  read  off.  The  weight  used  in  weighing  any- 
thing with   the  steelyards. 


Peach-brandy— Pebbly.  269 

Peach-brandy,  n.     A  spirituous  liquor  distilled  from  the  fer- 
mented juice  of  peaches. 

Peach-orchard,  n.     A  place  where  a  number  of  peach  trees 

grow. 
Peach-seed,  n.     The  hard  nut  enclosing  the  seed  or  kernel 

within  the  fruit  of  the  peach. 

Pea-coat,  n.  A  short  double-breasted  coat  of  woollen  stuff,  in 
form  resembling  a  short  over-coat. 

Pea-jacket,  ;;.  A  heavy  coat,  generally  of  pilot  cloth,  worn 
by  seamen  in  cold  or  stormy  weather. 

Peak'ed,  adj.     Having  a  sickly,  thin,  or  emaciated  appearance; 

drawn.     Said  of  the  face   or   expression.      Pronounced   as 

two  syllables. 
Peanut,  n.      The  eatable  fruit  of  the  plant  bearing  the  same 

name. 

Pear,  v.     To  appear.      "  It  pears  to  me  so." 

Pearch,  n.  Perch,  a  rod  or  pole  serving  as  a  roost  for  birds; 
anything  on  which  birds  light  and  rest.  An  elevated  seat 
or  position. 

Pearch,  n.     A  fish.      Perch. 

Pearch,  v.  Perch.  To  place,  set,  or  fix  on  a  pearch  or  other 
elevated  support. 

Peart,  adj.  Lively;  smart;  feeling  well;  in  good  spirits;  brisk; 
clever. 

Pearten  up,  v.     To  become  more  lively  and  active:  as,  a  horse 
peartens  tip  when  he  goes  along  better  and  makes  better 
time  on  the  road. 

Peartly,  adv.    In  a  peart  manner.    Readily;  briskly;  promptly. 

Pea-hull,  n.     The  hull  covering  the  pea;  a  pea-pod, 

Pea-time,  n.     The  last  of  pea-time \  faded;  sickly. 

Pebble,  n.     A  small  rounded  stone. 

Pebbly,  adj.      Full  of  pebbles. 


270  Peck— Pelt. 

Peck,  v.     To  peck  at,  to  attack  repeatedly  with  petty  criticism; 

to  carp  at.      "  Peck  on." 
Peck,   n.     A  quantity;  a  great  deal:  as,  in  a  peck  of  trouble. 

(2)  A  quarter  of  a  bushel. 

Peck,  //.     Peckaxe.     A  pickaxe.     A  \m\\-peck. 

Peckish,  adj.      Inclined  to  eat;  somewhat  hungry. 

Peculiar,   adj.     Singular;    unusual;    uncommon;    odd:    as,    he 
was  somewhat  peculiar  in  his  manner. 

Pee,  v.     To  make  water.     Used  by  and  to  children. 

Peeler,  //.      A  speech  or  letter  scoring  a  person. 

Peelings,  //.     Parings.    The  outside  skin  cut  from  fruit  or  vege- 
tables :   ' '  Potato  peelings;  '     "  apple  peelings. 

Peep,  v.     To  appear;  to  show:  as,  the  corn  has  begun  to  peep 
out  of  the  ground. 

Pee-pee.     Call  for  turkeys. 
Peeper,  n.     The  eye. 

Peer,  v.     To  appear;  seem.      "  It  peers  to  me  so." 
Peer,  v.     To  look  narrowly  or  sharply.      Implying  searching  or 
an  effort  to  see.      ' '  What  are  you  peeping  and  peering  at  ? ' ' 

Peevish,  adj.      Petulant;  ill-tempered;  cross;  fitfull. 

Peg,  n.     A  tooth;  children's  teeth  are  often  called  "pegs." 

Peg,  v.     To  work  or  strive  persistently.     Generally  followed  by 
away  or  along.      To  peg  out.     To  depart;  die. 

Pegging,  p.  p.      Dogged   or   plodding   perseverance   in  work. 
"  He  keeps  pegging  away  at  his  work." 

Peg-top,  //.      A  variety  of  top,  commonly  of  solid  wood  with  a 

metal  peg. 
Peg-tops,  n.  pi.      A  kind  of  trowsers  very  wide  at  the  top,  and 

gradually  narrowing  till  they  become  tight  at  the  ankles. 

Pelf,//.     Money;  riches;   "  filthy  lucre. " 

Pelt,  v.     To  assail  with  missies;  assail  or  strike  with  something- 
thrown.     To  throw  stones  at  a  person. 


Pelting— Perk.  271 

Pelting,  adj.      Heavy;  violent.      "  A  pelting  rain." 

Pelter,  ;/.     A  storm,  as  of  falling  rain,  hailstones. 

Pen,  n.  A  small  enclosure  made  with  rails  or  planks  for  shut- 
ting up  stock. 

Pen,  v.     To  enclose;  shut  up:  as,  to  pen  the  cattle  at  night. 

Pen-feather,  n.     An  undergrown  feather. 

Pen-fed,  adj.     An  animal  fattened  in  a  pen.     Stall-fed. 

Penny,  n.  As  in  ten  penny,  nail,  means  so  many  nails  to  the 
pound — ten  penny  is  ten  pounds  to  the  thousand  nails:  six 
penny,  six  pounds  weight  to  the  thousand  nails. 

Pennywinkle,  n.     A  small,  eatable,  sea  snail. 

Pepper,  v.     To  pelt  with  shot  or  other  missies. 

Pepper-and-salt,  adj.  Of  a  colour  consisting  either  of  a  light 
ground,  as  white,  drab,  gray,  dotted  or  speckled  finely  with 
a  dark  colour,  as  black  or  dark  gray,  or  black  or  dark 
gray  thickly  and  evenly  speckled  with  white  or  light  gray: 
said  of  a  fabric  or  a  garment. 

Pepper-box,  n.  A  small  box  with  a  perforated  lid,  used  for 
sprinkling  powdered  pepper  on  food. 

Peppermint-drop,  n.  A  confection  flavoured  with  pepper- 
mint. 

Peppery,  adj.  Choleric;  irritable;  warm;  sharp;  passionate; 
stinging. 

Perfect,  adj.  Entire;  out  and  out;  utter;  very  great:  as,  a  per- 
fect stranger. 

Perfectly,  adv.  In  a  perfect  manner;  wholly;  entirely;  com- 
pletely; thoroughly;  altogether;  quite.  With  the  highest 
degree  of  thoroughness  or  excellence;  in  such  a  way  to 
leave  nothing  to  be  desired. 

Periauger,  n.     A  canoe  made  from  the  trunk  of  a  single  tree 

hollowed  out,  with  built  up  sides. 
Perk,  v.     To  hold  up  smartly;  to  prick  up:  as,  to  perk  up  the 

mouth. 


s 


272  Perpetuana — Pethcoat. 

Perpetuana,  ;/.  A  stuff  of  wool  or  silk  and  wool.  It  was 
similar  to  lasting. 

Perry,  n.  A  fermented  liquor,  similar  to  cider,  made  from  the 
juice  of  pears. 

Persimmon,  n.  Simmon.  The  date-plum  of  a  tree  common 
in  Virginia.  The  fruit  is  about  an  inch  in  diametre,  ex- 
tremely astringent  when  green;  when  frosted  or  thoroughly 
ripe  it  is  sweet  and  eatable.     A  beer  is  made  of  the  fruit. 

Perspective  glass,  n.     A  spy-glass;  a  magnifying  glass. 

Peruse,  v.  To  go  through  searchingly  or  carefully;  run  over 
with  careful  scrutiny;  inspect:  as,  "We  have  perused  the 
town  in  search  of  a  house  to  live  in." 

Pester,  n.     A  trouble;  bother;  plague:  as,  he  is  a  great  pester. 

Pester,  v.  To  trouble,  disturb,  or  annoy,  especially,  with  re- 
peated acts  of  an  annoying  kind;  harrass  with  petty  vexa- 
tions; plague;  worry. 

Pestle,  n.  A  wooden  or  iron  instrument  for  pounding  or  break- 
ing corn  in  a  wooden  mortar  for  making  hominy.  (2)  The 
leg  of  certain  animals:  as,  a  turkey  pestle. 

Pestle-tail,  ;/.  A  horse's  tail  denuded  of  hair;  also,  applied 
to  a  person  of  an  indifferent  kind:  "  He  is  a  pestle-tail  any- 
how. ' ' 

Pet,  ;/.      A  fit,  as  of  peevishness,  ill  humour,  or  discontent. 

Pet,  n.     A  favourite. 

Pet,  ;/.  A  pit;  a  small  depression  or  dent,  such  as  left  on  the 
skin  by  the  smallpox:  his  face  is  covered  with  pets. 

Peter-grievous,  n.  A  dismal  person.  "  He  isa  regular /><?/<?r- 
grtevous." 

Pet-lamb,  ;/.      A  lamb  reared  by  hand. 

Peth,  >i.  A  form  of  pith.  The  pet  h  of  a  tree.  The  marrow 
in  an  animal's  backbone. 

Pethcoat,  n.      Petticoat.      (?) 


Pethy— Pick  up.  273 

Pethy,  adj.  Dry,  spongy  and  tasteless:  "  These  apples  are  not 
good ;  they  are  pethy. ' ' 

Petted,  v.     Favoured;  indulged. 

Petticoat,  ;/.     An  underskirt  worn  by  women  and  children. 

Petticoat-tail,  n.  To  be  without  a  top  coat:  "  She  was  going 
about  in  her  petticoat-tail." 

Pewter,  n.  An  alloy  of  tin  and  lead  of  which  plates,  dishes, 
saucers,  spoons,  tankards,  drinking-cups,  etc.,  were  made 
and  in  common  use. 

Pewtery,  adj.  Belonging  to,  resembling,  or  characteristic  of 
pewter:  as,  a  pewtery  taste. 

Philomedicy,  n.      "John  Stringar  Philomedicy." 

Phleem,  n.  A  thick  ropy  matter  secreted  in  the  digestive  and 
breathing  passages,  and  thrown  off"  by  coughing  or  vomit- 
ing; bronchial  mucus. 

Phyll-horse,  ;/.      Fill-horse;  thill-horse. 

Physic,  n.  A  medicine;  a  drug;  a  remedy  for  disease;  also, 
drugs  collectively. 

Physic,  v.     To    treat   with    physic   or    medicines;    cure;  heal; 

relieve. 
Physicky,  adj.      Like  physic  or  drugs:  as,  it  has  a  Physicky  ' 

taste. 
Piazza,  n.     An  arcaded  or  colonaded  walk  on  the  outside  of  a 

building;  a  veranda. 

Pick  at,  v.     To  quarrel  •vith.     They  are  always  picking  at  each 

other. 
Picking  up,  v.     Growing  better  in  health.      "  He  has  been  very 

sick  but  is  now  picking  up. ' ' 

Pickle,  n.  A  state  or  condition  of  difficulty  or  disorder;  a  dis- 
agreeable position;  a  plight. 

Pick  up,  v.  To  overtake;  to  come  up  with.  "I'll  pick  you  up 
as  I  come  along."  (2)  To  mend  in  health.  "The  child 
has  been  very  sick,  but  now  begins  to  pick  up. 

18 


274  Pick-upon — Piggin. 

Pick-upon,  v.  To  annoy;  the  other  boys  always  pick  upon 
this  one. 

Picture-book,  ;/.  A  book  of  pictures;  also,  a  book  illustrated 
with  pictures. 

Piddle,  v.  To  deal  in  trifles;  spend  time  in  a  trifling  way  or 
about  trifling  or  unimportant  matters;  attend  to  trivial  con- 
cerns, or  to  take  the  small  parts  rather  than  the  main;  trifle. 
(2)  To  make  water. 

Piddler,  >i.  One  who  piddles;  a  mere  trifler  or  good-for-noth- 
ing. 

Piddling,  n.     Trifling. 

Piebald,  adj.  Having  spots  or  patches  of  white  and  black  or 
other  colour;  parti-coloured;  pied. 

Piece,  n.  A  separate  article;  a  thing:  as,  a  piece  of  writing;  a 
piece  for  publication.  A  portion  of  land  in  an  open  field; 
sometimes  a  small  enclosure. 

Piece,  n.  An  individual;  a  person;  used  contemptuously,  and 
commonly  of  women:  as,  "  She  is  a  bold  piece;  "  a  "  torn- 
down  piece. " 

Piecemeal,  adv.  By  pieces;  bit  by  bit;  little  by  little;  grad- 
ually. 

Piedmont,  n.  That  part  of  Virginia  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  Mountains  above  the  Tidewater. 

Piercer,;/.      An  awl;  a  gimlet.      "  Piercer  bitts. " 

Pig,  v.     To  bring  forth  pigs;  bring  forth  in  the  manner  of  pigs; 

litter. 
Pigeon-breasted,  adj.       Having  the  breast  deformed,  narrow 

and  sharp  in  front. 

Pigeon-toed,  adj.      Having  the  toes  turned  in;  said  of  persons. 

Pigeonwing,  >i.  A  brisk,  fancy  step  or  caper  in  dancing:  as, 
to  cut  a.  pigeonwing. 

Piggin,  //.  A  small,  wooden  vessel  with  a  straight-up  handle, 
formed  by  continuing  one  stave  above  the  rim. 


Piggish — Pinch.  275 

Piggish,  n.  Like  a  pig  in  disposition,  habits,  or  manners;  hog- 
gish; swinish;  especially,  greedy;  said  chiefly  of  persons. 

Piggishness,  n.  The  character  of  being  piggish;  especially, 
greediness. 

Pig-headed,  adj.  Stupid  and  obstinate  as  a  pig;  stupidly  per- 
verse; unreasonably  set  in  mind. 

Pigheadedness,  n.  The  character  of  being  pigheaded;  stupid 
perversity  or  obstinacy. 

Pig  in,  v.     To  sleep  three  or  four  in  a  bed  like  pigs. 

Pig-nut,  n.  The  fruit  of  a  North  American  tree,  the  brown 
hickory.  (2)  Also,  earth-nut,  ground-nut,  a  small  nut  grow- 
ing in  the  ground,  dug  up  and  eaten  by  children. 

Pig-pen,  n.     A  pen  for  pigs. 

Pig-wash,  n.     Swill. 

Pigtail,  n.     Tobacco  twisted  into  a  rope  or  coil. 

Pile,  n.  A  large  amount  of  money;  a  fortune:  as,  "He  has 
made  his  pile. "     (2)  The  nap  on  cloth. 

Pilfer,  v.     To  steal  in  small  quantities;  practice  petty  theft. 

Pill,  n.  A  disagreeable  or  objectionable  person.  "He'sa//// 
for  you." 

Piller,  n.     Pillow. 

Pillowbear,  n.  A  cover  to  draw  over  a  pillow.  Pillowbeer. 
Pillowbier. 

Pillow-case,  n.  A  moveable  case  or  covering  drawn  over  a 
pillow.      Pillowbeere.      Pillowslip. 

Pilot-bread,  n.     Dry,  hard,  bread  made  for  use  at  sea. 

Pin,  v.  To  sieze  and  hold.  "  The  dog  pinned  him  by  the  leg." 
"  When  you  get  a  chance  pin  him." 

Pin-basket,  n.     The  youngest  child  of  a  family. 

Pinch,  n.  At  on  a  pinch,  in  an  emergency;  under  the  pressure 
of  necessity. 


276  Pinch — Pinners  Point. 

Pinch,  v.  To  deprive  one's  self  of  necessary  food:  as,  they 
pinch  their  bellies  for  the  benefit  of  their  backs. 

Pinchback,  ;/.  An  alloy  used  for  cheap  jewellery.  Adj.  Sham; 
spurious;  bogus. 

Pinched,/,  a.  Compressed;  contracted;  narrowed;  presenting 
the  appearance  of  being  straightened  in  circumstances,  or 
with  cold,  want,  or  trouble. 

Pinchers,  n.  pi.  A  metal  implement  for  seizing  and  holding. 
Pincers. 

Pinching-times,  n.  pi.  Times  of  poverty  and  want,  when 
people  were  pinched  with  cold  and  hunger. 

Pine,  v.  To  be  consumed  with  grief  or  longing;  grow  thin  or 
waste  away  with  pain,  sorrow,  or  longing;  languish:  often 
with  away.      "  She  is  pining  away  to  a  shadow." 

Pine-blank,  adv.     Point-blank. 

Pine-burr,  n.     The  cone  of  the  pine-tree. 

Pine-knot,  n.  The  resinous  knot  of  the  pine-tree,  used  for 
fuel  and  light. 

Pine-tag,  ;/.     The  needle  or  leaf  of  the  pine-tree. 

Pinetop,  ;/.     Cheap,  adulterated  whisky,   said  to  be  made  of 
pinetags. 

Pin-feathers,  n.  pi.     Ungrown  feathers. 

Ping,  n.  The  whistling  sound  made  by  a  bullet,  as  from  a  rifle, 
in  passing  through  the  air. 

Pin-head,  ;/.  The  head  of  a  pin;  hence  anything  very  small. 
"A  pin  has  a  head  and  so  has  Joe." 

Pinner,  n.  A  woman's  headdress,  having  long  flaps  hanging 
down  the  sides  of  the  cheeks. 

Pinners  Point,  n.  Pinnis,  pinnace  (?)  A  point  of  land  in 
York  county,  running  into  Chesapeake  Bay.  (2)  Pinnice. 
A  kind  of  open  boat. 


Pins  and  needles — Pitch.  277 

Pins  and  needles,  n.  pi.  The  pricking,  tingling  sensation  at- 
tending the  recovery  of  feeling  in  a  limb  which  has  gone  to 
sleep. 

Pint,  n.  and  v.      Point. 

Piny,  ;/.     PL  pinies.     A  form  of  peony. 

Pip,  v.  To  crack  the  egg  in  hatching.  "  The  chichens  will  be 
out  tomorrow,  the  eggs  are  all  pipped." 

Pipe,  v.  To  smoke;  to  smoke  a  tobacco  pipe.  "  Come  over 
tomorrow  and  we'll  pipe  an  hour  or  so." 

Pipes,  ;/.  pi.  The  large  air  passages  of  the  lungs;  and  when 
one  has  these  obstructed  he  is  said  not  to  have  his  pipes 
clear.      Bloodvessels;  veins;  arteries. 

Pipe-tree,  n.  The  catawba.  Catalpa.  The  long  pods  are 
smoked  by  the  children. 

Piping,/>.  a.  Simmering;  boiling;  piping-hot,  so  hot  as  to  hiss 
or  simmer. 

Pipjinny,  n.      Pimgenet.      A  pimple;  a  small  bile.      Pustule. 

Pipped,  past  part.  When  the  eggshell  is  cracked  by  the  chicken 
about  to  be  hatched  out  it  is  said  to  be  "pipped.''' 

Pissabed,  n.  The  dandelion  flower.  Children  are  warned 
not  to  pull  it  under  the  penalty  of  wetting  their  beds  at 
night. 

Piss-ant,  n.     An  ant. 

Piss-clam,  n.     So  called  from  its  squirting. 

Pit,  v.     To  make  a  small  dent  by  pressure. 

Pitch,  n.  The  height  of  anything.  "The  roof  was  ten  feet 
pitch." 

Pitch,  v.  To  pitch  in,  to  begin;  set  to  work  with  promptness 
or  energy.      (2)    To  pitch  into,  to  attack;  assault. 

Pitch,  v.  To  sit  down;  to  light.  "  I  saw  the  wild  geese  pitch 
in  the  wheatfields." 

Pitch,  v.     To  plant.      "  I  have  already  pitched  my  crop." 


278  Pitcher— Plank. 

Pitcher,  ;/.  A  vessel  of  various  sizes  with  one  handle  and  a 
lip-spout  for  holding  water  or  other  liquids.  A  basin  and 
pitcher.     Never  called  jug. 

Pitcher,  ;/.  The  man  who  pitches  the  sheaves  of  wheat  up  on 
the  cart  or  stack,  by  means  of  a  pitch-fork. 

Pitch-fork,  ;/.  A  wooden  implement  that  will  hold  several 
sheaves  of  wheat,  and  used  to  pitch  them  upon  a  cart  or 
stack. 

Pitch-pine,  n.     A  sort  of  pine  tree. 

Pitch-pot,  >i.  A  large  pot  used  for  boiling  pitch  for  paying  the 
seams  of  wooden  vessels  after  caulking. 

Pit-coal,  n.      Mineral  coal:  distinguished  from  charcoal. 

Pit-saw,  )i.  A  saw  working  in  a  pit,  as  a  large  saw  for  cutting 
timber,  operated  by  two  men,  one  of  whom  called  the  pit- 
sawyer  stands  in  the  pit  below  the  log  that  is  sawing,  and 
the  other  called  the  top-sawyer  on  the  log. 

Pizzle,  n.  The  penis  of  an  animal,  as  a  bull,  ram,  boar;  not  ot 
a  dog. 

Place,  n.  Dwelling;  a  building  or  part  of  a  building  set  apart 
for  any  purpose.  A  place  in  the  country;  a  place  of  busi- 
ness. 

Place,  n.  Duty;  business.  "It's  your  place  to  do  as  I  tell 
you." 

Placket,  //.  The  opening  or  slit  in  a  petticoat  or  skirt.  Placket- 
hole,  the  slit  in  a  gown  or  petticoat,  before  or  behind,  which 
enables  the  wearer  to  put  it  on. 

Plague,  :■.     To  vex;  harrass;  trouble;  annoy;  tease. 

Plaguy,  adj.     Troublesome;  vexatious;  annoying; 

Plaguy,  adv.     Vexatiously;  deucedly:  as,  plaguy  hard. 

Plain,  adj.  Without  beauty;  homely.  Artless;  simple;  un- 
learned; without  artifice  or  affectation ;  unsophisticated. 

Plank,  v.  To  lay  or  place  as  on  a  plank  or  table :  as,  he  planked 
down  the  money. 


Plants— Plight.  279 

Plants,  n.  pi.  Young  cabbage-plants  fit  for  planting  out. 
(2)  Oysters  that  have  been  taken  from  the  rocks  and  planted 
to  grow  and  fatten. 

Plashy,  adj.     Watery;  full  of  puddles;  wet. 

Plaster,  v.  To  bedaub  or  besmear:  as,  to  plaster  the  face  with 
powder. 

Plat,  n.  A  platted  or  braided  thing,  something  produced  by 
platting  or  interweaving:  as,  a  straw  plat  for  hats;  a  plat  ol 
hair. 

Plat,  v.     To  interweave;  make  or  shape  by  interweaving. 

Play-acting,  n.     Theatrical  performance;  stage-playing. 

Play-actor,  n.     A  stage-player;  an  actor. 

Play-day,  n.  A  day  given  to  pastime  or  diversion;  a  day 
exempt  from  work. 

Playgame,  n.     Sport;  child's  play;  a  play  of  children. 

Playmate,  n.  A  playfellow;  a  companion  in  play  or  amuse- 
ment. 

Playsome,  adj.     Playfull. 

Playthings,  ;/.  pi.  Toys;  things  that  serve  to  amuse.  '  Rainy 
days  when  children  cannot  go  out  they  have  their  playthings 
in-door." 

Playtime,  n.  Time  for  playing;  time  devoted  to  or  set  aside 
for  amusement,  at  school. 

Pleat,  n.     A  flattened  gather  or  fold.      Never  plait. 

Pleat,  v.     To   fold;  double    in    narrow   strips.       Pleated,/.*/. 

Folded. 
Pled,  v.      Past  tense  and  past  part,  of  plead.     To  urge  a  plea, 

an  argument.      "  He  pled  hard  for  his  life." 

Plegged,  adj.     Troublesome;  annoying. 

Plenty,  adv.     Quite.    "  It' s  plenty  big  enough  for  what  I  want." 

Plight,  ;/.      Condition;  position;  state;  situation;  predicament. 


280  Plod— Plum. 

Plod,  v.     To  go  or  walk  over  in  a  heavy,  labouring  manner. 

Plodding,  p.  a.  Moving  or  working  with  slow  and  patient 
diligence;  patiently  laborious:  as,  a  man  of  plodding  habits. 

Plodge,  v.     To  walk  in  mud  or  water;  plunge. 

Plop,  v.     To  fall  or  plump  into. 

Plot,  ;/.      A  plan;  a  design;  sketch;   drawing.      "  A  plot  for  a 

town. "      "A  plot  for  a  house. ' ' 

Plough-lines,  n.  The  cord  used  as  reins  by  which  a  plough- 
man drives  and  guides  his  horses. 

Plough-point,  n.  A  detachable  share  at  the  front  end  of  a 
plough-body  forming  a  point  to  the  junction  of  the  mould- 
board,  sole,  and  landside. 

Pluck,  ;/.  The  heart,  liver,  and  lights  or  lungs  of  a  sheep,  ox, 
or  other  animals  used  as  butchers'  meat:  also,  used  figura- 
tively or  humourously  of  the  like  parts  in  a  human  being. 
(2)  Heart;  courage;  spirit;  determined  energy;  resolution 
in  the  face  of  difficulties. 

Pluckily,  adv.     In  a  plucky  manner;  with  courage  or  spirit. 

Plucky,  adj.  Possessing  pluck  or  spirit,  and  courage;  spirited; 
courageous. 

Plug,  n.     A   mass  of  chewing   tobacco  flattened   out    under   a 

press. 
Plug,  n.      A  filling  of  gold  or  other  substance  put  in  a  tooth. 

(2)  A  piece  of  wood  to  stop  a  hole. 

Plug,  v.  To  hit  with  a  ball  or  bullet:  as,  to  ping  a  deer  with  a 
rifle.  (2)  To  cut  a  plug  from:  said  of  watermelons  when  a 
tapering  plug  is  cut  out  to  see  if  the  fruit  is  ripe,  and  then 
replaced. 

Plug,  v.  To  plug  tops,  is  to  put  one  top  on  the  ground  and  the 
players  try  to  strike  it  with  the  spike  of  their  tops. 

Plug-hole,  ;/.     A  hole  for  a  plug,  in  the  bottom  of  a  boat. 

Plum,;;.  Dried  grapes;  raisin.  "Plum-cake."  "Plum-pud- 
ding." 


Plumb— Pocket-pistol.  281 

Plumb,  adj.      Perpendicular. 

Plumb,  adv.  Exactly;  to  a  nicety;  completely:  as,  he  hit  him 
plumb  on  the  nose. 

Plumb,  adv.  Altogether;  all  the  time.  "  He  was  there  plumb 
to  Sunday." 

Plumb-bob,  n.  A  lump  of  lead  used  by  bricklayers  to  tell 
when  their  work  is  perpendicular. 

Plume,  v.  To  pride;  boast;  used  reflexively;  as,  to  plume 
one's  self  on  one's  skill. 

Plump,  adj.  Full  and  well  rounded;  hence,  of  a  person,  fleshy; 
fat;  chubby. 

Plump,  adv.  At  once,  as  with  a  sudden  heavy  fall;  suddenly; 
heavily;  without  warning  or  preparation;  very  unexpect- 
edly;  right;  downright. 

Plum-peach,  n.  A  peach  the  meat  of  which  does  not  leave 
the  seed. 

Plumper,  u.     An  unqualified  lie;  a  downright  falsehood. 

Plumply,  adv.  Fully;  roundly;  without  reserve:  as,  to  assert 
a  thing  plumply. 

Plumps,  ;/.  pi.  A  game  of  marbles  where  the  marble  shot 
must  hit  the  one  shot  at  without  striking  the  ground. 

Plunder,   n.      Household   or  personal   effects;    baggage;    lug- 
gage- 
Ply,  n.     A  fold;   a  thickness:    as,   three-plj'  thread;    threeply 
carpets. 

Pocket-knife,  n.  A  knife  with  one  or  more  blades  that  shut 
into  the  handle,  suitable  for  carrying  in  the  pocket. 

Pocket-piece,  n.  A  coin  that  is  kept  in  the  pocket  and  not 
spent,  generally  a  coin  that  is  not  current.      For  luck. 

Pocket-pistol,  n.  A  small  liquor-flask,  arranged  with  a  screw 
stopper,  or  in  other  ways  safely  closed,  and  often  fitted  with 
a  cup;  a  small  travelling-flask. 


282  Pohickery — Poop. 

Pohickery,  n.  Hickory.  The  Indian  name  for  the  hickory 
tree.      "  Poinkery." 

Pohickery,  n.  Powcohicora.  An  Indian  word.  The  milky 
oily  liquor  made  by  pounding-  hard-shell  walnuts  shell  and  all 
in  a  mortar  with  water. 

Point  of  death,  ;/.  The  near  approach  of  death;  a  very  sick 
person  with  little  hope  of  recovery  is  said  to  be  "  at  the  point 
of  death r 

Point-blank,  adj.     Direct;  plain;  explicit;  express. 

Point-blank,  adv.  Directly;  straight;  without  deviation  or  cir- 
cumlocution. 

Poke,  ;/.      A  lazy  person;  a  dawdler. 

Poke,  v.  To  thrust  or  push  against;  prod;  especially  with  some- 
thing long  or  pointed,  as  a  cow's  horns;  prod,  and  stir  up: 
as,  to  poke  a  person  in  the  ribs.     Poke  fun  at,  to  joke. 

Poke  about,  v.     To  pry;  to  go  about  stealthily. 

Poke-berry,  ;/.     The  fruit  of  the  poke-weed.     The  juice  was 

used  as  a  dye. 
Poky,  adj.     Slow;    dull;  stupid:    said  of  persons.       Confined; 

cramped;  musty;  stuffy:  said  of  places.      Poor;  shabby. 

Poll-parrot,  n.     A  parrot. 

Polls,  ;/.      Voting-places. 

Poll-tax,  )i.      A  tax  paid  on  each  head. 

Pollywog,  ;/.     A  tadpole. 

Pomarie,  ;/.     Orchard;  fruit  garden. 

Pometo-basket,  n.  A  round  apple-shaped  basket.  (Of  a 
green  colour?)     Pommetty  ?  Made  of  green  coloured  grass  ? 

Pond,  v.  To  dam  back  water.  "Since  the  dam  was  built  the 
water  ponds  in  the  road  after  every  rain." 

Pone,  ;/.  A  loaf  or  cake  of  bread:  as,  "Holding  a  pone  of 
corn-bread  in  her  hand." 

Poop,  v.     To  break  wind.      Also,  poot. 


Poop — Poquoson.  283 

Poop,  u.     The  act  of  breaking  wind.     Also,  poot. 

Poor,  adj.  Lean;  meagre;  emaciated:  as, poor  cattle.  (2)  Lack- 
ing in  fertility;  barren;  exhausted:  as,  poor  land. 

Poor  creetur,  n.  One  weak  in  body  or  mind.  "He  is  a 
mighty  poor  creetur. ' ' 

Poor  folks,  n.  pi.     The  thriftless  class. 

Poor  folksy,  adj.      Like  or  after  the  fashion  of  poor  folks. 

Poorly,  adj.  Somewhat  ill;  indisposed;  not  in  health;  unwell. 
"She  is  right  poorly  to-day." 

Poorly  off,  adj.      Not  well  off;  not  rich. 

Pop,  n.  An  effervescent  drink,  like  soda  water,  in  bottles,  fla- 
voured. 

Pop,  v.  To  make  a  noise  like  burning  wood.  "  I  don't  like 
to  burn  this  green  wood,  it  pops  so." 

Popcrackers,    ;/.  pi.     Small  Chinese  fireworks.      Firecrackers. 

Pop-corn,  n.  One  of  several  varieties  of  Indian  corn  suitable 
for  "popping."  The  "popping"  is  done  by  parching  the 
grains  till  they  pop  or  burst  open. 

Pope's-nose,  n.  The  fleshy  part  of  the  tail  of  a  bird;  the 
part  on  which  the  tail-feathers  are  borne. 

Pop-eyed,  adj.      Having  pop-eyes;  having  prominent  eyes. 

Pop-eyes,  n.  pi.     Full,  bulging,  or  prominent  eyes. 

Pop-gun,  ;/.  The  barrel  of  a  quill,  with  a  stick  as  rammer, 
with  sliced  Irish  potato  for  charges;  also,  a  joint  of  elder 
with  the  "  peth  "  shoved  out,  and  ripe  dogwood  berries  for 
ammunition. 

Pop  open,  v.  To  tear  from  pressure.  "  Her  dress  is  so  tight 
it  looks  like  it  would  pop  open.'" 

Poppy,  adj.     Full,  or  bulging.      "His  eyes  are  mighty  poppy 

to-day." 
Poppy-cock,  n.      Trivial  talk;   nonsense;  stuff  and  rubbish. 

Poquoson,  ;/.  A  wet,  swampy  piece  of  ground.  Pocoson. 
Pawquoson. 


284  Porch— Pot-lid. 

Porch,  n.  A  covered  way  or  entrance,  whether  enclosed  or 
unenclosed. 

Portly,  adj.     Stout;  somewhat  large  and  unwieldy  in  person. 

Pose,  v.     To  bear;  conduct. 

Possession,  v.     To  chop  line-trees  and  renew  landmarks. 

Possessioner,  ?i.  Possessionem  are  men  appointed  to  go 
around  and  chop  line-trees  or  otherwise  mark  between  peo- 
ple's landed  property. 

Possum,  ;/.     A  well  known  animal  in  Virginia. 

Possum,  v.     To  play  possum;  feign  death;  dissemble. 

Post-haste,  adj.      Expeditious;  speedy;  immediate. 

Post-hole,  >i.     A  hole  dug  in  the  ground  to  receive  the  end  of 
a  fence-fost. 

Potato,  n.  Small  potatoes,  something  petty,  or  insignificant  or 
contemptible. 

Potato- vine,  n.     The  part  of  the  potato  plant  above  ground. 

Pot-bellied,  adj.      Having  a  prominent  belly. 

Pot-belly,  >i.  A  protuberant  belly;  a  person  having  a  protu- 
berant belly. 

Potfull,  >i.     The  contents  of  a  pot;  as  much  as  a  pot  can  hold. 

Pot-hanger,  >i.  A  hook  secured  in  a  chimney  in  any  way,  as 
on  a  crane,  for  supporting  a  pot  over  a  fire. 

Pot-herb,  //.  Any  herb  prepared  for  use  by  boiling  in  a  pot; 
particularly,  one  of  which  the  tops  or  the  whole  plant  is 
boiled. 

Pot-hook,  ii.  Two  pieces  of  iron  joined  at  one  end,  the  free 
ends  having  a  hook  by  which  pots  are  handled,  the  hooks 
being  put  into  the  ears  of  the  pot. 

Pothooks-and-hangers,  n.  pi.  The  first  straight  and  crooked 
lines  made  by  children  learning  to  write. 

Pot-lid,  >i.     The  lid  or  top  of  a  pot. 


Pot-liquor — Pound.  285 

Pot-liquor,  n.  The  liquor  in  which  bacon  and  cabbage  have 
been  boiled. 

Pot-luck,  n.  What  may  chance  to  be  in  the  pot,  in  provision 
for  a  meal;  hence,  a  meal  at  which  no  special  preparation 
has  been  made  for  guests. 

Pot-metal,  ;/.     Cast  iron. 

Pot-pie,  n.  A  pie  made  by  lining  the  inner  surface  of  a  pot  or 
pan  with  pastry,  and  filling  it  with  meat,  as,  beef,  mutton, 
fowl,  etc.,  seasoning  it  and  then  baking. 

Potrack,  n.     The  cry  of  the  guinea  fowl. 

Pot-rack,  n.  A  chain  hanging  in  a  chimney  on  which  pots  are 
hung  for  cooking. 

Pot-stick,  n.     A  stick  used  for  stirring  a  pot  in  soap-making; 

soapstick. 
Potted-butter,  ;/.     Butter  salted,  and  put  away  in  earthern  pots 

in  summer,  for  winter  use.     Butter-pot. 

Potter,  v.  To  busy  one's  self  over  trifles;  trifle;  work  with 
little  energy  or  purpose. 

Pottanger,  ?i.  Pottinger;  pottenger.  A  porringer.  Porringer, 
a  small  vessel  deeper  than  a  plate  or  saucer,  usually  having 
upright  sides,  a  nearly  flat  bottom,  and  one  or  two  ears. 

Pottle,  n.     A  liquid  measure  of  two  quarts. 

Poultry,  n.  A  poultry,  a  hen:  as,  "one  Poultry,  one  Duck, 
and  one  Turkey."      "Two  Poultrie. "      York  Records. 

Pounce,  n.  A  substance  used  to  prevent  blotting  in  writing 
over  erasures. 

Pounce-box,  n.  A  box  for  holding  the  pounce  used  in  writing- 
over  erasures. 

Pound,  v.  To  beat;  to  strike  as  with  a  heavy  instrument  and 
with  repeated  blows. 

Pound,  n.  An  enclosure,  maintained  by  authority,  for  confin- 
ing cattle  or  other  beasts  when  trespassing,  or  going  at  large 
in  violation  of  law.     (2)  An  enclosure  in  which  animals  are 


286  Pound-cake— Pratite. 

kept;  a  farm-pen.     (3)  A  low   pen   made   with   planks  for 
young  turkeys  when  first  hatched  to  keep  them  from  straying. 

Pound-cake,  ?i.  A  rich  sweet  cake,  so  named  because  its  prin- 
cipal ingredients  are  measured  by  the  pound. 

Pound-net,  n.     In  fishing,  a  kind  of  weir. 

Pour,  v.  To  run  rapidly.  "  The  cows  poured  over  the  road  to- 
wards the  meadow." 

Pout,  v.  To  thrust  out  the  lips,  as  in  displeasure  or  sullenness; 
hence  to  look  sullen. 

Pouty,  adj.  Showing  sullenness  of  displeasure  by  thrusting 
out  the  lips. 

Powder-gourd,  n.  A  small  gourd  with  a  straight  neck,  car- 
ried in  the  pocket  for  holding  gun-powder  in  place  of  a  flask. 

Powder-horn,  n.  A  cow's  horn  fitted  with  a  wooden  bottom, 
for  holding  gunpowder.  (2)  Anything  very  dry  is  said  to 
be  as  "dry  as  a poivdcr-Jwrny  Name  of  the  old  magazine 
in  Williamsburg. 

Powdering-tub,  n.     A  tub  used  for  salting  meat. 

Powerfull,  adj.     Great;  numerous;  numerically  large. 

Powerfull,  adv.      Very:  as,  powerfull  good;  power/nil  weak. 

Powwow,  n.  A  meeting  where  there  is  more  noise  than  de- 
liberation. 

Powwow,  v.  To  hold  a  consultation;  deliberate  over  events. 
To  hold  any  noisy  meeting. 

Praise,  v.     To  appraise;  to  value. 

Prance,  v.  To  walk,  strut,  or  caper  in  an  elated,  proud,  or 
conceited  way. 

Prank,  n.  A  playful!  or  mischievous  act;  a  trick  played  some- 
times in  malice,  but  more  commonly  in  sport,  an  escapade; 
a  gambol. 

Prankish,  adj.      Mischievous;  frolicsome;  full  of  pranks. 
Pratite,  >i.     (?)     "  Pratite  dish."      Inventory. 


Preacher-man — Prim.  287 

Preacher-man,  ;/.     A  preacher. 

Precinct,  v.  A  subdivision  of  a  county  or  city,  within  which 
a  single  poll  is  held  at  elections;  a  territorial  district  or  divis- 
ion. 

Precious,  adj.  Worthless;  good-for-nothing;  a  "precious 
couple." 

Precious,  adv.     Very;  exceedingly;  extremely. 

Prehaps,  adv.     Perhaps. 

Presently,  adv.  By  and  by;  after  a  while.  "  Tell  him  to  wait 
I'll  come  presently." 

Presently,  adv.  Now;  at  this  very  time.  "He  said  he  had 
it  not  at  present,  but  would  eyther  pay  it  as  soon  as  he 
could  p'cure  it,  or  give  him  valuable  satisfaction.  He  vio- 
lently replyed  and  swore  that  he  would  have  it  presently. ," 

Presny,  adv.  By  and  by;  after  a  while.  "  He  has  gone  away 
but  will  be  back  presny. " 

Preserves,  n.  pi.      Fruits  preserved  in  sugar. 

President,  n.  President  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeals  of 
Virginia,  seems  to  have  been  called  "president"  and  not 
Chief  Justice,  because  the  presiding  officer  of  the  former 
council,  that  was  the  Court  of  Appeals,  was  called  Presi- 
dent of  the  council,  and  presided  in  the  absence  of  the  Gov- 
ernor. 

Prespiration,  n.      Perspiration;  sweat. 

Press,  n.  An  upright  case  or  cupboard  in  which  clothes,  books, 
china,  or  other  articles  are  kept.      Book-press. 

Pretties,  ;/.  pi.  Pretty  toys  or  things.  "Pretties  for  the  chil- 
dren." 

Pride,  n.     The  ovary  of  female  animals,  particularly  the  sow. 

Prim,  adj.  Neat;  formal;  stifly  precise;  affectedly  nice;  de- 
mure. 

Prim,  v.   .  To  make  one's  self  prim  and  precise. 


288  Prime — Promise. 

Prime,  n.  The  spring  of  life;  youth;  full  health,  strength,  or 
beauty;  hence,  the  highest  or  most  perfect  state  or  most 
flourishing  condition  of  anything. 

Prime,  n.  The  highest  or  most  perfect  state;  the  best  of  any- 
thing. The  time  when  fruit,  vegetables  and  fish  are  at  their 
best,  is  the  prime  of  the  seaso>i. 

Priming,  n.  Figuratively,  anything  as  small  to  something  else 
as  the  gun-priming  is  relatively  to  the  charge:  as,  "  His  crop 
isn't  w  priming  to  mine." 

Priming-gourd,  n.  A  small  gourd  with  fine  gunpowder  used 
to  prime  the  old  flint-lock  guns. 

Prink,  v.     Todeck;  adorn;  dress  ostentatiously  or  fantastically. 

Prisoners' -base,  /i.  A  children's  game  in  which  one  player 
strives  to  touch  others  as  they  run  from  one  base  or  goal  to 
another. 

Privy,  n.      A  necessary  house;  a  water-closet  out  of  doors. 

Prize,  ;;.      A  lever. 

Prize,  v.  To  force  or  press,  especially  force  open  by  means  of 
a  lever.     To  pry. 

Prizes,  n.  pi.     Used  for  prices. 

Procession,  v.  To  mark  off  the  boundaries  of  land,  and  us- 
ually done  by  possessioners  or  processioners  named  by  the 
court.      Processioning. 

Prog,  n.  Victuals  gotten  by  begging;  hence,  victuals  in  gen- 
eral; food.  One  who  goes  from  place  to  place  begging  for 
victuals. 

Prog,  v.     To  go  prowling  about,  as  for  pickings;  forage. 

Projeck,  n.  Apian;  a  scheme;  a  design.  Proj'ekt.  "Some 
projeck  in  view." 

Projecking,  />.  a.  Trying  experiments;  inventive;  enterpriz- 
ing.  (2)  In  one  sense,  as  playing  pranks.  'Don't  be 
projecking  with  that  clock." 

Promise,  v.     To  assure.     It  promises  well  for  crops. 


Promising — Provoking.  289 

Promising,^),  a.  Giving  promise;  affording  just  expectations 
of  good ;  affording  reasonable  ground  of  hope  for  the  future : 
looking  as  if  likely  to  turn  out  well. 

Prone,  adj.  Inclined  by  disposition  or  natural  tendency ;  pre- 
pense; disposed.     Usually  in  an  ill  sense. 

Prong,  n.  A  sharp  point  or  pointed  instrument;  especially  one 
of  several  points  which  together  make  up  a  larger  object: 
as,  the  prong  of  a  fork. 

Prong,  n.     A  branch  of  a  river. 

Proper,  adj.  Decent;  correct  in  behaviour;  respectable;  such 
as  should  be. 

Properly,  adv.  In  a  proper  manner;  with  propriety;  fitly; 
suitably;  correctly. 

Prospect,  n.  Expectation  or  ground  of  expectation,  especially 
expectation  of  advantage,  often  used  in  the  plural:  as,  his 
prospects  are  good. 

Protracted-meeting,  n.  A  meeting  held  in  the  country 
churches  and  preaching  continued  several  days,  usually 
among  the  Baptists  and  Methodists. 

Proud,  adj.     Conceited;  supercilious.      "  He  is  a  proud  sort  of 

man." 
Proud,  v.     To  be  excited  by  sexual  desire:  as,  a  proud  bitch. 

Proud-flesh,  n.  Unhealthy  flesh  in  a  wound  or  sore.  Exu- 
berant granulations. 

Provender,  n.  Food;  provisions;  especially  dry  food  for 
beasts,  as  hay,  straw,  or  corn;  fodder. 

Provider,  n.  A  good  provider,  one  who  is  liberal  in  supplying 
provisions,  etc.,  for  his  family. 

Provoke,  v.  To  excite  to  anger  or  passion;  exasperate;  irri- 
tate; enrage. 

Provoking,/,  a.  Tending  to  stir  up  passion;  irritating;  vexa- 
tious.     ' '  He  is  very  provoking. 

19 


290  Prowl— Pull. 

Prowl,  v.     To  rove  or  wander  in  a  stealthy  manner. 

Pry,  n.     A  large  lever  used  to  move  heavy  substances;  a  prize. 

Puce,  adj.      Purplish  brown;  flea  colour. 

Pucker,  n.  A  drawing  or  gathering  into  folds  or  wrinkles;  an 
irregular  folding  or  wrinkling;  a  collection  of  irregularly 
converging  ridges  or  wrinkles.  (2)  A  state  of  flutter,  agi- 
tation, or  confusion;  a  fuss;  with  a  touch  of  ill-temper. 

Pucker,  v.  To  draw  up  or  contract  into  irregular  folds  or 
wrinkles;  specially  in  serving;  to  gather. 

Pudding-headed,  adj.     Dull;  stupid. 

Pudding-time,  n.  The  time  for  pudding,  that  is,  dinner-time. 
The  nick  of  time;  critical  time. 

Puddle,  n.  A  small,  dirty  pool  of  water.  "Duck-puddle"  a 
small  pond  of  water  for  ducks  to  swim  in. 

Puddle,  v.     To  stir  up  mud  or  the  sediment  in  water  like  a 

duck. 
Puddle-duck,  n.     The  common,  domestic  duck;  so  called  from 

its  characteristic  habit  of  puddling  water. 

Pudge,  v.  In  playing  marbles  to  gain  in  distance  by  moving 
the  hand  suddenly  forward  just  before  shooting  the  marble. 

Pudgy,  adj.     Fat  and  short;  thick;  fleshy. 

Puffy,  adj.  Coming  in  puffs;  characterized  by  puffs;  gusty. 
(2)  Swollen;  distended  as  with  a  blister.  "  His  eyes  were 
swollen,  and  his  face  was  puffy. " 

Pug,  n.  A  pug-nose;  the  form  or  turn  of  a  pug-nose:  as,  a 
decided  pug. 

Pug-nose,  >i.     A  nose  turned  up  at  the  tip;  a  snub-nose. 

Puke,  v.     To  vomit;  eject  the  contents  of  the  stomach. 

Puke,  n.  Vomit;  a  vomiting;  that  which  is  vomited.  (2)  An 
emetic.     (3)  A  disgusting  person. 

Pull,  >i.  A  drink;  a  swig:  as,  to  have  a  pull  at  the  brandy- 
bottle. 


Pull-down— Pussy.  291 

Pull-down,  v.  To  weaken:  as,  "He  has  been  very  much 
pulled  down  by  that  spell  of  sickness." 

Pummy,  n.  Pummage;  Pummies;  Pomace.  Ground  apples 
in  cider  making;  before  and  after  the  juice  is  pressed  out. 

Pump,  v.  An  artfull  effort  to  extract  or  elicit  information,  as  by 
indirect  question  or  remark. 

Pump,  )i.  A  low  shoe  or  slipper,  with  a  single  unwelted  sole, 
and  without  a  heel,  or  with  a  very  low  heel;  worn  chiefly  by 
gentlemen  for  dancing. 

Punch,  n.  A  blow,  dig,  or  thrust,  as  with  the  fist,  elbow,  or 
knee:  as,  to  give  a  punch  on  the  head. 

Puncheon,  n.  A  short,  upright  piece  of  timber,  usually  driven 
in  the  mud  or  water. 

Pungy,  n.  A  small  schooner  with  a  low  log-gunnel  instead  of 
a  waist  around  the  deck. 

Punk,  n.  Wood  decayed  through  the  influence  of  a  fungus  or 
otherwise,  and  used  like  tinder. 

Punkin,  n.  Pronounced  pung'kin.  The  fruit  of  a  variety  of 
Cucurbita  Pepo,  and  the  plant  which  produces  it. 

Punkin-head,  n.     A  stupid  fellow;  a  dolt. 

Punkhorne,  n.     A  horn  for  holding  punk  when  used  as  tinder. 

Punt,  7i.  A  flat-bottomed,  square  ended,  mastless  boat  of  va- 
rying size  and  use,  made  of  a  large  tree. 

Puny,  adj.  Small  and  weak;  inferior  or  imperfectly  developed 
in  size  and  strength;  feeble;  petty. 

Purchase,  n.  Leverage;  length  of  lever  beyond  fulcrum.  (2) 
A  tackle  for  moving  a  weight. 

Push,  v.     To  urge;  hurry.      "  If  I  was  pushed  I  could  do  it." 

Puss,  n.     Purse.     M.ox\zy-puss. 

Pussly,  n.     A  plant.     A  form  of  p?irsla?ie. 

Pussy,  n.  Fat;  corpulent;  inclined  to  puff  and  pant  with  slight 
exertion. 


292  Put-off— Quarter. 

Put-off,  n.     An  excuse;  a  shift  for  evasion  or  delay. 

Put  out,  v.  Offend.  "He  was  very  much  put  out  by  what 
she  said." 

Put-up,  v.  To  take  lodgings;  lodge.  "  He  put-tip  at  the  new 
tavern." 

Put  to,  v.  Said  of  domestic  animals.  "  I  always  put  my  mares 
to  Mr.  A's  horse." 

Put  up  to,  v.  To  incite;  to  instruct;  to  suggest.  "  He  wouldn't 
do  it  himself,  he  was  put  up  to  it." 

Put  up  with,  v.     To  take  what  one  can  get,  and  be  thankfull. 

Q 

Quaggy,  adj.  Yielding  to  the  feet  or  trembling  under  foot,  as 
soft,  wet  earth;  boggy;  spongy. 

Quagmire,  n.  Soft,  wet,  boggy  land  that  shakes  under  foot; 
a  marsh;  a  bog. 

Quait,  n.     A  form  of  quoit. 

Qualify,  v.  To  modify  the  quality  or  strength  of;  make 
stronger,  dilute,  or  otherwise  fit  for  taste:  as,  to  qualify 
liquors. 

Quality,  n.     The  better  class  of  people. 

Qualmish,  adj.  Sick  at  the  stomach;  inclined  to  vomit; 
affected  with  nausea. 

Quandary,  n.  A  state  of  difficulty  or  perplexity;  a  state  of 
uncertainty,  hesitation  or  puzzlement;  a  pickle,  a  predica- 
ment. "  He  was  in  such  a  quandary  he  didn't  know  what 
to  do." 

Quarrelsome,  adj.  Apt  to  quarrel;  given  to  brawls  and  conten- 
tion; inclined  to  petty  fighting;  easily  irritated  or  provoked 
to  contest;  irascible;  choleric;  petulant;  also,  proceeding 
from  or  characteristic  of  such  a  disposition. 

Quarter,  n.  A  twenty-five  cent  piece,  which  is  a  quarter  of  a 
dollar,  is  often  called  simply  ' '  a  quarter. ' ' 


Quarters— Quill.  293 

Quarters,  n.  pi.  The  houses  inhabited  by  negroes  on  a  plan- 
tation. Also,  a  settlement  of  negro  slaves  away  from  the 
"  great  house." 

Quarter-horse,  n.  A  horse  that  is  good  for  a  dash  of  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  in  a  race. 

Quartering-house,  n.  House  where  white  servants  were  quar- 
tered. 

Quartering-room,  n.  Name  given  to  a  room  in  the  Colonial 
houses. 

Quawk,  n.     Imitative  of  the  sound  made  by  the  cry  of  fowls. 

Quawk,  v.     To  croak;  caw. 

Queen  Hive,  ;/.  Queen  Hithe.  A  landing  place  on  the 
Thames  near  London.  The  name  of  a  place  in  Mulbury 
Island. 

Queer,  adj.  Having  a  sensation  of  sudden  or  impending  ill- 
ness; sick  or  languid.  (2)  Odd;  singular;  droll;  whimsical; 
quaint.      " Queer  fishy 

Queerly,  adv.     In  a  queer,  odd,  or  singular  manner. 

Querl,  n.     A  twist;  a  curl. 

Querl,  v.  To  twirl;  turn  or  wind  around;  coil:  as,  to  querl  a 
cord,  thread,  rope. 

Question,  n.  Out  of  the  question.  A  thing  not  to  be  noticed, 
or  admitted. 

Quick,  n.  That  which  is  quick,  or  living  and  sensitive;  with 
the  article:  cut  to  the  quick. 

Quid,  n.  A  portion  suitable  to  be  chewed;  specifically,  a  piece 
of  tobacco  chewed  and  rolled  about  in  the  mouth. 

Quiet,  adj.  Applied  to  persons,  gentle;  civil;  not  given  to 
strong  language. 

Quill,  ?i.  A  piece  of  small  reed,  used  by  weavers  to  wind  the 
thread  on.  These  quills  are  put  in  the  "  shettle  "  and  shot 
through  the  warp,  by  hand. 


294  Quilt— Race-path. 

Quilt,  n.     A  quilted  petticoat.     A  quilted  cover  for  a  bed. 

Quilting,  n.     A  meeting  of  women  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
one  of  their  number  in  quilting  a  bed-quilt. 

Quilting-frame,  n.     A  frame  with  adjustable  bars,  etc.,  used 
for  stretching  flat  a  fabric  for  quilting. 

Quinch,  n.     A  form  of  quince. 

Quirl,  v.     Curl.      "  The  dog  was  quirled  up  on  the  mat." 

Quit,  v.     To    cease;  stop;  give   over.      "  Quit   troubling    that 
child." 

Quiver,  v.     To  quake;  tremble;   shake  tremulously;  shudder; 
shiver. 

Quizzical,  adj.      Characteristic  of  a  quiz;  bantering;  teasing; 
shy;  queer. 

Quoives,  ;/.  pi.     Ouoif,  a  sort  of  cap. 
Quoke,  v.     Strong  past  tense  of  quake. 


R.  Littera  canina;  the  dog's  letter;  letter  of  roughness,  is  soft- 
ened and  slurred  in  so  many  words  that  it  is  scarcely  heard: 
as,  in  horse,  the  r  is  so  softened  as  to  be  almost  hoss.  and 
others.  The  burr  and  trilled  r  are  never  heard.  R  has 
sound  of  w  in  corn  =  cawn;  born  =  bawn;  morn  =  mawn. 
Or,  or  has  sound  of  azv. 

Raccoon,  n.     A  well  known  varmint. 

Raccoon-oyster, ;/.  An  uncultivated  oyster  growing  on  muddy 
banks  exposed  at  low  tide. 

Race,  ;/.      Root:  as,  a  race  of  ginger;  ginger  in  the  root. 

Racefield,  ;/.  A  field  where  races  are  run;  a  field  in  which 
there  is  a  track  or  paths  for  racing. 

Race-path,  >/.      Path  or  track  over  which  races  are  run.      A 
place  near  Williamsburg  still  known  as  the  ' '  Quarter-paths, 
where  races  were  formerly  run. 


Racer — Ragman.  295 

Racer,  n.     The  common  black  snake.     He  is  said  to  run  faster 

than  a  race-horse. 
Rack,  v.     To  be  guided  in  working  by  the  eye,  without  line  or 

rule.     To  work  by  rack  of  eye. 

Rack,  v.  To  strain  so  as  to  rend;  wrench  by  strain  or  jar;  dis- 
integrate; disjoint:  as,  a  racking  cough. 

Rack,  n.     Thin,  flying,  broken  clouds. 

Rack,  n.  Same  as  wrack;  now  used  in  the  phrases  to  go  to 
rack,  to  go  to  rack  and  ruin;  total  destruction. 

Rack,  n.     A  gait  of  the  horse  between  a  trot  and  a  gallop. 

Rack,  v.     To  draw  off,  as  pure  liquor  from  its  dregs. 

Racker,  n.     A  horse  that  moves  with  a  racking  gait. 

Racket,  n.  A  disorderly,  confusing  noise,  as  of  commingled 
play  or  strife  and  loud  tajk;  any  prolonged  clatter;  din; 
clamour.  A  clamorous  outburst,  as  of  indignation  or  other 
emotion;  a  noisy  manifestation  of  feeling:  as,  to  make  a 
racket  about  a  trifle;  to  raise  a  racket  about  one's  ears. 

Rackety,  adj.     Making  or  characterized  by  a  racket  or  noise; 

noisy:  as,  a  rackety  company  or  place. 
Raft,  n.     A  miscellaneous  collection   or  heap;    a  promiscuous 

lot;  used  slightingly:  as,  a  raft  of  papers;  a  whole  raft  of 

things  to  be  attended  to. 

Rag-baby,  n.  A  rag-baby.  A  doll  made  entirely  of  rags  or 
scraps  of  cloth,  usually  in  a  very  artless  manner. 

Rag-bag,  n.     A   bag  into   which  are  put  odds  and  ends  and 

scraps  of  cloth  for  further  use. 
Rag-carpet,  n.     A   carpet   made  of  rags,  formerly    made    by 

families,  the  rags  being  first  cut  into  strips  and  woven  by 

hand. 
Ragg'ed,  adj.     In  rags.      "  He  was  dirty  and  very  ragged." 
Raggedy,  adj.     Ragged;  uneven. 
Ragman,  n.     A  ragged  person.      ' '  He  looked  like  a  ragman. 


296  Rags-and-jags — Rallack. 

Rags-and-jags,  n.  pi.  Tatters;  fragments;  rags.  "Meat 
boiled  to  rags." 

Rag-tag,  n.  Ragged  people  collectively;  the  scum  of  the  pop- 
ulace; the  rabble. 

Rail,  n.  A  piece  of  timber  split,  hewed,  or  sawed  for  making 
fences. 

Rain-barrel,  n.  A  barrel  put  under  the  eaves  to  catch  rain- 
water. 

Rain-crow,  ;/.  A  bird  so  named  from  its  cries,  often  heard  in 
lowering  weather,  and  supposed  to  foretell  rain. 

Rain  or  shine,  adv.  Certainly:  without  fail.  "I'll  be  there 
rain  or  shine. ' ' 

Rainy-day,  n.  A  time  of  need,  and  to  lay  by  for  a  rainy-day 
is  to  provide  for  the  future. 

Rainy-quarter,  n.  Winds  anywhere  between  northeast  and 
southeast  are  in  the  rainy-quarter  as  they  bring  rain 

Raise,  v.  To  promote  the  growth  and  development  of;  bring- 
up;  rear;  grow;  breed:  as,  to  raise  a  family  of  children;  to 
raise  crops,  plants,  or  cattle.  (2)  To  raise  a  house,  to  raise 
and  join  together  the  parts  of  the  frame  of  a  house  built  of 
wood.  (3)  To  raise  the  wind,  to  obtain  money  by  some 
shift  or  other.  (4)  To  raise,  to  bring  up  phlegm,  bile  or 
blood  from  the  throat,  lungs,  or  stomach.  (5)  An  acquisi- 
tion; a  getting  or  procuring  by  special  effort,  as  of  money 
or  chattels:  as,  to  make  a  raise  of  a.  hundred  dollars.  (6) 
Raise  the  place.     To  make  a  disturbance. 

Rake  and  scrape,  v.  To  rake  and  scrape  together,  to  gather 
like  a  miser.  "He  has  been  raking  and  scraping  all  his 
life,  and  now  his  son  will  sqtiander  what  he  saved." 

Rake  up,  :■.  To  collect  or  repeat  scandal  or  calumnies.  "  She 
is  always  raking  up  some  bad  tale  or  another." 

Rallack,  v.  Rollack.  Rollick.  To  run  about  after  pleasure 
instead  of  attending  to  business.  "He  goes  rallacking 
about  from  one  place  to  another." 


Ram— Rank.  297 

Ram,  v.  To  stuff  or  press  together;  to  pack  dirt  around  a  post 
set  in  the  ground. 

Rambunctious,  adj.  Boisterous;  careless  of  the  comfort  of 
others;  violent;  arrogant. 

Rammish,  «(//'.     Strong  scented;  rank;  stinking. 

Rampage,  n.  A  leaping  or  jumping  about,  as  from  anger  or 
excitement;  violent  or  furious  movement;  excited  action  of 
any  kind:  as,  to  be  on  the  rampage. 

Rampageous,  adj.  Behaving  rampantly;  unruly;  raging; 
boisterious;  stormy. 

Rampant,  adj.  Overleaping  restraint  or  usual  limits;  unbridled; 
unrestrained. 

Ramsack,  v.  To  search  thoroughly;  seek  carefully  in  all  parts; 
overhaul  in  detail.      Ransack. 

Ramshackly,  adj.  Out  of  gear  or  repair;  crazy;  tumble- 
down.    Ramshackle. 

Randevoo,  n.  A  place  of  gathering  for  people.  "  His  house 
is  a  regular  randevoo  for  all  sorts  of  people."      Randy voo. 

Ran  die,  v.  Rannel.  To  pinch  a  schoolboy  for  breaking  wind 
if  he  did  not  say,  "  free  man,"  or  "  free  nob,"  before  the 
other  said  li  rand/e." 

Random,  adj.  In  a  haphazzard,  and  aimless  way.  "The 
cattle  were  not  confined  at  all  but  went  at  random. ' '  (2)  Ap- 
plied to  fruits  or  vegetables  that  grow  where  no  seed  has 
been  intentionally  sown. 

Range,  v.  To  rove  freely;  pass  from  point  to  point:  as,  the 
cattle  range  in  the  woods  in  the  winter-time. 

Rank,  adj.  Standing  in  close  order;  thick  on  the  ground:  as, 
a  rank  crop  of  wheat  or  corn. 

Rank,  adj.     Strong  smelling. 

Rank,  adj.  Eager;  anxious;  impatient:  as,  has  was  rank  to 
doit.  (2)  Decided;  strong  in  principle.  "He  is  a  rank 
Democrat. 


298  Rap— Rate. 

Rap,?/.  A  thing  of  very  small  value.  "  He  didn't  care  a  rap." 
"As  if  he  cared  a  rap. ' ' 

Rap,  v.  To  rap  out.  To  throw  out  violently  or  suddenly  in 
speech;  utter  in  a  forcible  or  striking  manner:  as,  to  rap  out 
an  oath. 

Rap-full,  adj.  Full  of  wind.  Applied  to  sails  when  on  a  wind 
every  sail  stands  full  without  lifting. 

Rappee,  n.     A  strong  kind  of  snuff. 

Rapper,  n.     An  extravagant  oath  or  lie. 

Rapping,  adj.  Remarkably  large;  of  striking  or  astonishing 
size. 

Rapscallion,  n.  A  rascally,  disorderly,  or  despisable  person; 
a  wretch  or  vagabond. 

Rare,  adj.     Underdone;  meat  not  fully  cooked. 

Rare,  v.  Rear.  To  rise  up;  assume  an  elevated  posture;  as, 
a  horse  or  other  animal  in  standing  on  its  hind  legs  alone. 

Rare  back,  v.  To  sit  up  straight  with  the  head  thrown  back. 
"There  she  sat  in  the  carriage,  rared  back,  who  but  her." 

Rarely,  adv.     Seldom;  not  often:  as,  things  rarely  seen. 

Rareripe,  adj.  Early  ripe:  ripe  before  others,  or  before  the 
season.      Hardly  ripe. 

Rasberry,  n.     A  form  of  raspberry. 

Rascality,  n.  The  character  or  action  of  a  rascal;  the  quality 
of  being  a  rascal;  low  or  mean  trickery;  base  or  dishonest 
procedure;  villainy;  fraud. 

Rash,  ;/.     An  eruption  on  the  skin. 

Rasp,  >/.     A  large  hie,  such  as  horst'shoers  use  on  horses'  hoofs. 

Rasping,  />.  a.  Characterized  by  grating  or  scraping:  as,  a 
rasping  sound;  hence,  irritating;  exasperating. 

Rassle,  v.     To  wrastle. 

Rate,  ;/.  At  any  rate,  in  any  manner,  by  any  means;  in  any 
case;  at  all  events;  positively.  At  no  rate,  in  no  manner; 
by  no  means;  not  at  all. 


Rather—  Rawboned.  299 

Rather,  adv.  In  preference;  preferably;  with  better  reason; 
better.  In  some  degree  or  measure;  somewhat;  moderately: 
as,  she  is  rather  pretty. 

Rat-hole,  n.  A  hole  gnawed  in  woodwork,  etc.,  by  a  rat  or 
rats. 

Ratsbane,  n.     A  poison  for  killing  rats. 

Rattlebrain,  n.     A  giddy,  chattering  person;  a  rattlepate. 

Rattletrap,  n.  A  shaky,  rattling  object;  especially,  a  rattling, 
rickety  vehicle;  in  the  plural,  objects  clattering  or  rattling 
against  each  other. 

Ravel,  v.  Disengage  the  threads  or  fibres  of  a  woven  or 
knitted  fabric,  a  rope;  draw  apart  thread  by  thread;  unravel; 
commonly  with  out. 

Ravelling,  n.  A  ravelled  thread  or  fibre;  a  thread  drawn  out 
from  a  woven,  knitted,  or  twisted  fabric:  as,  to  use  ravel- 
lings  for  basting. 

Ravelly,  adj.  Showing  loose  or  disjointed  threads;  partly  rav- 
elled out. 

Ravine,  n.  A  long,  deep  hollow  worn  by  a  stream  or  torrent 
of  water;  hence,  any  deep,  narrow  gorge,  as  in  a  mountain; 
a  gully. 

Raving,/),  a.     Furious  with  delirium;  mad;  distracted. 

Raw,  adj.  Harshly  sharp  or  chilly,  as  the  weather;  bleak,  es- 
pecially from  cold  moisture;  characterized  by  chilly  damp- 
ness. (2)  Looking  like  raw  meat,  as  from  lividness  or 
removal  of  the  skin;  deprived  or  appearing  destitute  of  the 
natural  integument:  as,  a  razv  spot  on  a  horse. 

Raw,  n.  A  raw  article,  material  or  product.  An  uncooked 
oyster,  or  an  oyster  of  a  kind  preferred  for  eating  raw. 
(2)  A  raw,  galled,  or  sore  place;  an  established  sore,  as,  on 
a  horse;  hence,  soreness  or  sensativeness  of  feeling  or  tem- 
per. 

Rawboned,  adj.  Having  little  flesh  on  the  bones;  lean  and 
large-boned;  gaunt. 


300  Raw-edged — Reckon. 

Raw-edged,  adj.     Not  hemmed. 

Rawhead,  n.  A  spectre;  a  nursery  bugbear  of  frightfull  aspect: 
usually  coupled  with  bloody  bones. 

Rawhide,  >i.     A  riding-whip  made  of  twisted  rawhide. 

Razor-back,  n.  A  hog  whose  back  was  somewhat  the  shape 
of  a  sharp  ridge.  The  formation  accompanied  by  long 
legs,  is  characteristic  of  breeds  of  hogs  that  have  long  been 
allowed  to  run  wild  in  the  woods  and  waste  places  and  feed 
on  mast,  wild  fruit,  etc.  The  flesh  of  such  swine,  particu- 
larly that  of  the  hams,  is  usually  of  superior  quality  for  the 
table. 

Razor-back,  adj.     Narrow  back  as  hogs. 

Razor-strop,  ;/.     A  leather  on  which  a  razor  is  whetted.     Strap. 

Reach,  n.  A  continuous  stretch  or  course;  a  reach  of  a  river 
a  straight  course  between  bends. 

Really,  adv.     Indeed;  to  tell  the  truth;  as  a  fact. 

Ream,  n.  A  ring  of  grass  twisted  and  put  around  the  ends  of 
an  oxbow  under  the  "  key  "  to  adjust  the  bow  to  the  size  of 
the  steer's  neck.  The  "key"  went  through  a  hole  in  the 
bow  above  the  "ream." 

Ream,  v.  To  put  the  ream  on  the  bow.  Ream  up,  to  tighten 
the  bow. 

Ream,  v.  To  enlarge  a  hole  in  wood  or  metal.  The  tapering 
instrument  used  for  the  purpose  is  called  a  reamer. 

Reap-hook,  n.     A  reaping  hook  for  cutting  grain  that  requires 
to  be  sharpened,  as  distinguished  from  a  "toothed  hook  ' 
or  sickle;  the  difference  is  always  made  in  old  inventories, 
the  two  being  always  mentioned. 

Rear-horse,  n.      Pronounced  rare.     The  mantis. 

Reason,  n.     A  form  of  raisin. 

Reckon,  v.  To  hold  a  supposition  or  impression;  have  a  no- 
tion; think;  suppose:  as,  "I  reckon  a  storm  is  coming." 


Reclaim— Reel.  301 

Reclaim,  v.     To  fit  for  cultivation,  as  wild  or  marshy  land. 

Recollect,  v.  To  recover  or  recall  knowledge  of;  bring  back 
to  the  mind  or  memory;  remember. 

Recollection,  n.  The  act  of  recollecting,  or  recalling  to  the 
memory;  the  act  by  which  objects  are  voluntarily  recalled 
to  the  memory  or  ideas  are  revived  in  the  mind;  the  search- 
ing of  the  memory;  remembrance. 

Recover,  v.     To  regain  health  after  sickness;  grow  well  again. 

Recovery,  ;/.  Restoration  from  a  bad  to  a  good  condition:  es- 
pecially, restoration  from  sickness,  faintness,  or  the  like. 

Red  Betty,  n.  A  small  whip  of  that  colour  kept  hanging  up 
behind  the  closet-door  as  a  warning,  and  also  a  special  ap- 
plication. 

Redbird,  ;;.     A  name  of  several  red  or  partly  red  birds. 

Redden,  v.  To  make  red.  Red  ochre  is  used  to  redden 
hearths  in  the  country. 

Redding,  n.  A  compound  used  to  redden  the  jambs  and  hearth 
of  an  open  wood-fireplace;      Red  ochre. 

Reddish,  n.     Radish. 

Redeye,  n.  A  strong,  fiery  whiskey;  so  called  from  its  effect 
on  the  eyes  of  drinkers. 

Red  lane, n.     The  throat;  what  one  swallows  is  said  to  go  down 

the  red  lane. 
Red-oak,  n.     An  oak  tree,  common  in  eastern  North  America. 

Reel,  n.  A  machine  on  which  yarn  is  wound  to  form  it  into 
hanks,  skeins,  etc. 

Reel,  v.  To  wind  on  a  reel,  as  yarn  or  thread  from  the  spindle; 
or  a  fishing-line. 

Reel,  v.  To  sway  from  side  to  side  in  standing  or  walking; 
stagger,  especially  as  one  drunk.     To  turn  round  and  round. 

Reel,  n.  A  lively  dance.  Virginia  reel,  a  country  dance  the 
same  as  the  "  Sir  Roger  de  Coverley." 


302  Refusal — Respects. 

Refusal,  n.  The  refuse.  The  choice  of  refusing  or  taking; 
the  right  of  taking  in  preference  to  others;  option  of  buy- 
ing. 

Regards,  n.  pi.  Respects;  good  wishes;  compliments:  as, 
"  My  best  regards  to  the  family." 

Regrets,  n.  pi.     An  expression  of  regret. 

Regular,  adj.  Thorough;  out  and  out;  perfect;  complete:  as, 
a  regular  humbug. 

Reight,  n.     For  right. 

Related,/),  a.  Allied  by  kindred;  connected  by  blood  or  al- 
liance, particularly  by  consanguinity. 

Relation,  n.  A  person  connected  by  blood  or  affinity;  a  kins- 
man or  kinswoman;  a  relative. 

Relationship,  n.  The  state  of  being  related  by  kindred,  affin- 
ity, or  other  alliance. 

Relative,  ;/.  A  person  connected  by  blood  or  affinity;  espe- 
cially one  allied  by  blood;  a  kinsman  or  kinswoman;  a  rela- 
tion. 

Relish,  >i.  That  which  is  used  to  impart  a  flavour;  especially, 
something  taken  with  food  to  increase  the  pleasure  of  eating; 
a  sauce. 

Remember,  v.  To  put  in  mind  of:  as,  "  If  you  will  remember 
me  of  it." 

Rensh,  ,-■.  A  form  of  rinse.  To  wash  by  the  shaking  around 
of  water  in  a  vessel;  or  by  washing  in  a  second  clean  water. 
Pronounced  like  xvrench. 

Render,  v.  To  reduce;  try  out;  clarify  by  boiling  or  steaming; 
said  of  fats. 

Renig,  v.     To  play  a  card  that  is  not  of  the  suit  led;  to  revoke. 

Resk,  ;/.      for  risk.      "  I  don't  think  I  can  take  the  resk." 

Respects,  n.  pi.  Expression  or  sign  of  esteem,  deference  or 
compliments:  as,  to  pay  one's  respects  to  the  governor. 
"  Please  give  him  my  respects.'" 


Respectable— Rid.  303 

Respectable,  adj.  Proper;  decent:  as,  conduct  that  is  not 
respectable. 

Rest,  n.  Those  not  included  in  a  proposition  or  description; 
others.  In  this  sense  rest  is  a  collective  noun  taking  a  plu- 
ral verb.      "  The  rest  of  the  family." 

Rest,  v.     To  sleep.      "  He  rests  well  at  night." 

Retch,  n.      Reach.      "  In  my  retch." 

Retch,  v.     To  reach.      ''Retch  me  that  plate." 

Retch,  v.     To  make  efforts  to  vomit. 

Reticule,  n.  A  bag,  originally  of  net-work,  but  later  of  any 
formation  or  material,  carried  by  women  in  the  hand  or  on 
the  arm,  and  answering  the  purpose  of  a  pocket. 

Reverent,  adj.     Strong;  unadulterated  liquors. 

Rib,  ?i.  The  part  knit  at  the  top  of  a  sock,  in  a  different  stitch, 
to  make  it  fit  closer  on  the  leg.      "Ribs  of  a  sock." 

Ribbin,  ;/.      Ribbon. 

Ribbit,  n.     A  form  of  rivet. 

Rib-roast,  v.     To  beat  soundly;  cudgel;  thrash. 

Rib-roaster,  n.     A  heavy  blow  on  the  ribs;  a  body-blow. 

Rib-roasting,  n.     A  beating  or  drubbing;  a  cudgelling. 

Rich,  adj.  Excessive;  extravagant;  inordinate;  outrageous; 
preposterous;  commonly  applied  to  ideas,  fancies,  fabrica- 
tions, claims,  demands,  pretensions,  conceits,  jests,  tricks, 
etc. 

Rick,  7i.  A  heap  or  pile;  specially  a  pile  of  hay,  grain,  or 
wood. 

Rick,  v.     To  pile  up  in  ricks. 

Rickety,  adj.  Shaky;  liable  to  fall  or  collapse,  as  a  chair,  table, 
bridge,  etc.;  ill-sustained;  weak. 

Rid,  v.  To  separate  or  free  from  anything  superfluous  or  ob- 
jectionable; disencumber;  clear.  (2)  To  rid  hog-guts  of 
the  fat  for  making  lard. 


304  Rid— Rife. 

Rid,  v.     A  form  of  rode. 

Riddance,  n.  A  welcome  relief  from  unpleasant  company  or 
an  embarrassing-  connection  or  complication;  hence,  some- 
thing of  which  one  is  glad  to  be  quit.      ' '  A  happy  riddance. ' ' 

Riddle,  n.  A  sieve,  especially  a  coarse  one  for  grain,  sand,  and 
the  like.      (2)  A  large  sieve  for  sifting  wheat  in  a  barn. 

Riddle,  v.     To  sift  with  a  riddle,  or  coarse  sieve. 

Riddle,  n.  A  proposition  so  framed  as  to  exercise  one's  inge- 
nuity in  discovering  its  meaning;  an  ambiguous,  complex, 
or  puzzling  question  offered  for  solution. 

Riddlings,  ;/.  pi.  The  coarser  part  of  anything,  as  grain  or 
ashes,  which  is  left  in  the  riddle  after  sifting;  siftings; 
screenings. 

Ride,  v.  To  ride  and  tie,  to  ride  and  go  on  foot  alternately; 
said  of  two  persons. 

Ride,  v.  Ride  sheriff;  to  ride  about  as  sheriff  for  the  purpose 
of  collecting  taxes  from  the  people.  "  I  rode  sheriff  in  that 
county  five  years." 

Ride,  v.  To  be  carried  in  a  wheel  carriage.  "Riding  in  a 
buggy." 

Rider,  n.  In  a  snake-fence,  a  rail  or  stake  one  of  which  rests 
on  the  ground,  while  the  other  end  crosses  and  bears  upon 
the  fence-rails  at  the  angle  of  meeting,  and  thus  holds  them 
in  place. 

Ridgeling,  ;/.  A  horse  or  mule  with  one  testicle  removed  or 
wanting. 

Ridge-pole,  ;/.  The  board  or  timber  at  the  ridge  of  the  roof, 
into  which  the  rafters  are  fastened. 

Ridicule,  n.  A  form  of  reticule;  a  bag  in  which  women  carry 
gloves,  handkerchiefs,  etc. 

Ridiculous,  adj.     Abominable;  outrageous;  shocking. 

Rife, adj.  Abundant;  plentifull;  numerous;  prevalent;  current. 
"  Such  reports  are  rife  in  the  country." 


Riffle— Right  much.  305 

Riffle,  ;/.  A  ripple,  as  on  the  surface  of  water;  hence,  a  rapid; 
a  place  in  a  stream  where  a  swift  current,  striking  on  rocks, 
produces  a  boiling  motion  in  the  water. 

Riffle,  n.     Ripple;  the  breeze  makes  a  riffle  on  the  water. 

Riffraff,  n.     The  rabble. 

Rifle,  n.  An  instrument  used  after  the  manner  of  a  whetstone 
for  sharpening  scyths,  and  made  of  a  piece  of  wood  coated 
with  sharp  sand  or  emery,  with  a  handle  at  one  end.  Also 
made  of  a  piece  of  shingle,  paddle-shaped,  coated  with  tar 
and  covered  with  sand. 

Rig,  n.  A  frolic;  a  trick4  "  They  are  all  the  time  running  rigs 
on  each  other." 

Rig,  v.  To  dress;  to  fit  out  or  decorate  with  clothes  or  personal 
adornments;  often  with  out  or  up. 

Right,  n.  "  Has  a  right;  "  ought.  "  You  have  no  right  to  do 
that." 

Right,  adj.  Precise;  exact;  very.  In  good  health  or  spirits; 
well  in  body  or  mind;  in  good  condition;  comfortable. 
"Right  as  a  trivet." 

Right,  adv.  Exactly;  precisely;  completely;  quiet;  just:  as, 
right  here;  right  now;  to  speak  right  out.  Right  away. 
Rain  right  hard. 

Right,  v.  To  take  an  upright  and  proper  position.  '  The 
boat  creened  with  the  flaw  then  righted. 

Right-down,  adv.     Very.      " Right-down  cold." 

Rights,  n.  pi.  To  put  to  rights,  to  arrange  in  an  orderly  con- 
dition; set  in  proper  order;  bring  into  a  normal  state.  '  It 
puts  me  to  rights."      "  To  put  things  to  rights." 

Right-hand,  adj.  Serving  as  a  right  hand,  hence,  foremost  in 
usefullness;  of  great  service  as  an  assistant:  as,  "  My  rigid- 
hand  man." 

Right  much,  adv.  A  gooddeal.  "  He  had  right  much  fever 
to-day." 

20 


306  Right  smart — Rip-saw. 

Right  smart,  adj.  A  good  deal.  There  was  right  smart  of 
water  in  the  road. 

Rigmaree,  ;/.      A  trifle. 

Rigmarole,  n.  A  succession  of  confused  or  foolish  statements; 
an  incoherent,  long-winded  harangue;  disjointed  talk,  or 
writing;    nonsense. 

Rig-out,  ;/.     A  rig;  an  outfit;  a  suit  of  clothes;  a  costume. 

Rile,  v.     To  excite  to  some  degree  of  anger;  vex;  annoy. 

Rim,  n.  Edge.  The  rim  of  a  hat;  bound  around  the  rim. 
Also  used  for  "  casters.'"      "  One  silver  rim  and  casters." 

Rim,  n.  The  outter  edge  of  a  spinning-wheel  on  which  the  band 
goes. 

Rine,  n.     The  outside  of  a  water-melon,  or  a  musk-melon. 

Ring,  v.  To  have  the  sensation  of  a  continued  humming  or 
buzzing  sound:  as,  to  make  one's  head  ring;.  Have  a  ring- 
ing in  the  ears. 

Ring-fence,  n.  A  fence  surrounding  a  piece  of  property  as  if 
in  a  ring,  when  the  land  of  no  other  owner  is  within  the 
fence. 

Rip,  v.  To  rush  or  drive  headlong  or  with  violence.  (2)  To 
rip  and  tear,  to  be  violent  and  furious,  as  with  excitement 
and  rage. 

Rip,  v.  To  break  forth  with  violence;  explode;  with  out.  "  He 
ripped  out  an  oath." 

Rip,  ;/.  A  vicious,  reckless,  and  worthless  person;  applied  to 
a  man  or  woman  of  vicious  practices  or  propensities,  and 
more  or  less  worn  by  dissipation. 

Ripper,  A  very  efficient  person  or  thing;  one  who  does  great 
execution:  as,  he  is  a  regular  ripper.  A  big  lie.  Ripping, 
adj. 

Rip-saw,  ;/.  A  hand-saw  the  teeth  of  which  have  more  rake 
and  less  set  than  a  cross-cut  saw,  used  for  cutting  wood  in 
the  direction  of  the  grain. 


Rip  up — Roger.  307 

Rip  up,  v.  To  part  clothes  into  the  several  pieces  by  cutting 
the  sewing.  "  She  ripped  up  the  old  dress  and  made  a  new- 
one  of  it." 

Rise,  n.  Increase  beyond  a  certain  number.  '  He  has  the  rise 
of  fifty  sheep. ' ' 

Rise,  v.  To  ferment;  to  leaven,  as  dough  in  which  "  east"  has 
been  put,      "  The  '  easf  isn't  good  the  bread  didn't  rise." 

Rising,  n.  That  which  rises;  a  prominence,  elevation,  or  swell- 
ing; specifically,  a  tumour  on  the  body,  as  a  bile.  "  He 
has  a  bad  rising  on  his  hand."  (2)  That  which  is  used  to 
make  dough  rise,  as  yeast  or  leaven. 

Risky,  adj.  Attended  with  risk;  hazardous;  dangerous:  as,  a 
very  risky  business. 

Rethmetic,  n.     For  arithmetic. 

Rive,  v.  To  split;  cleave;  rend  asunder  by  force:  as,  to  rive 
slabs  with  a  froe. 

Roach,  v.  To  cause  to  stand  up  or  arch;  make  projecting  or 
convex:  as,  his  hair  was  roached  up  over  his  forehead.  To 
cut  short  so  as  to  cause  to  stand  up  straight;  said  of  horses' 
manes. 

Roadster,  n.  A  good  travelling  horse  is  called  a  good  road- 
ster. 

Roasting-ear,  n.  A  ear  of  corn  in  the  green  and  milky  state, 
and  fit  for  roasting  for  food. 

Rock,  71.     A  stone  of  any  size  larger  than  a  pebble. 

Rock,  v.     To  throw  rocks.      "  You  boys  stop  rocking." 

Rock,  n.     A  fish,  the  striped  bass. 

Rock-candy,  n.  Pure  sugar  in  cohering  crystals  of  consider- 
able size  and  hardness. 

Rocking-chair,  n.     A  chair  mounted  on  rockers. 

Rocky,  adj.  Disposed  to  rock  or  reel;  hence,  giddy,  tipsy, 
dizzy. 

Roger,  v.     To  copulate. 


308  Rogerry— Roost. 

Rogerry,  n.     The  penis. 

Roguy,  adj.      Knavish;  dishonest.      "He   has  a  roguy  look." 

Roll,  v.  To  turn;  have  a  rotary  motion;  a  movement  of  the 
eyes:  as,  "  She  rolled  her  eyes  at  him." 

Roll,  n.  A  slender,  loose  cylinder  of  wool  or  cotton  made  on 
hand-cards  for  spinning-  into  a  thread  on  a  spinning-wheel. 

Rolling-house,  n.  Warehouse  for  tobacco,  where  it  was  rolled 
down  to  the  wharf  and  aboard  a  vessel;  also  used  as  a  store- 
house for  imported  goods. 

Rolling-pin,  n.  A  cylindrical  piece  of  wood,  with  which  dough 
is  reduced  to  a  Droper  thickness. 

Rolling-road,  >i.  Road  on  which  tobacco  was  hauled  to  mar- 
ket, each  hogshead  was  rolled  by  having  an  animal  hitched 
to  it  by  shafts  fixed  to  its  ends,  the  hogshead  rolling  along 
the  ground.  These  hogsheads  were  stored  in  Rolling- 
houses,  built  on  Rolling-roads. 

Roly-poly,  n.     A  short,  stout  person. 

Roly-poly,  adj.     Round;  pudgy. 

Romble,  v.  A  form  of  ramble.  "  These  cattle  romblc  all  over 
the  country." 

Romp,  v.  To  play  rudely  and  boisterously;  leap  and  frisk 
about  in  play. 

Romp,  n.     A  rude  girl  who  indulges  in  boisterous  play. 

Rooster-crow,  n.  At  daybreak.  "I  get  up  every  morning 
at  rooster-crow." 

Rooster's  egg,  n.     A  small  hen's  egg. 

Room,  v.  To  occupy  a  room  or  rooms;  lodge:  as,  "  He  rooms 
at  No.  3." 

Roomy,  adj.  A  house  that  is  large,  with  large  rooms,  and 
plenty  of  space  is  called  "  roomy."  "  He  has  a  large  fam- 
ily but  he  has  a  roomy  house." 

Roost,  ;/.  A  pole  or  pearch  on  which  fowls  rest  at  night.  (2) 
A  temporary  abiding  or  resting  place. 


Rooster — Rouser.  309 

Rooster,  n.  The  male  of  the  domestic  hen;  a  cock,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  female  or  hen. 

Root,  v.     To  turn  over  the  ground  with  the  nose  as  a  hog. 

Rooves,  ;/.  pi.      Roofs.      Plural  of  roof. 

Rope,  v.     To  tie  or  fasten  with  a  rope.     To  catch  with  a  rope. 

Ropy,  adj.      Stringy;  thick,  gummy  soup  is  ropy,  like  gumbo. 

Rosen-ear,  n.      Roasting  ear;  green  corn. 

Ross,  n.     The  rough,  scaly  matter  on  the  bark  of  some  trees. 

Rosum,  n.      Rosin. 

Rotgut,  n.  Bad  or  adulterated  liquor,  injurious  to  the  stomach 
and  bowels;  whiskey  adulterated  with  hurtful  substances  to 
cheapen  it  while  increasing  its  apparent  strength. 

Rough-carpenter,  n.  A  carpenter  who  can  do  only  the  plainest 
work  of  the  trade. 

Rotten-ripe,  adj.  Overripe;  too  ripe.  "These  peaches  are 
rotten-ripe . ' ' 

Rotten-stone,  ;/.  A  light  stone,  in  its  powdered  state  used 
for  polishing  metals. 

Rough-dry,  adj.  Dry  but  not  smoothed  or  ironed:  as  rough- 
dry  clothes. 

Rough-scuff,;/.  A  rough  coarse  fellow;  a  rough ;  collectively, 
the  lowest  class  of  the  people;  riff-raff;  the  rabble. 

Round,  n.  A  round,  cylindrical,  part  or  piece  of  something. 
Round  of  a  ladder;  round  of  a  chair.  (2)  The  step  in  a 
ladder  between  the  side-frames. 

Round-jacket,  n.  A  short  coat  or  body  garment  coming  down 
to  the  hips  and  without  any  skirts. 

Round-potatoes,  n.  pi.  Irish  potatoes,  distinguishing  from 
long-potatoes,  or  sweet-potatoes. 

Rouser,  n.  That  which  arouses  attention  or  interest;  something 
exciting  or  astonishing:  as,  "That's  a  rouser" — an  aston- 
ishing lie. 


310  Rousing— Ruffle. 

Rousing,  adj.  Having  power  to  rouse,  excite,  or  astonish; 
surprizingly  great,  swift,  violent,  forcible,  lively:  as  a  rous- 
ing fire;  a  rousing  meeting. 

Rout,  n.  Rowt.  Away;  road;  path;  a  line  of  travel,  passage, 
or  progression ;  the  course  passed  or  to  be  passed  over  in 
reaching  a  destination.  Not  route — root.  "  They  took  the 
old  rout  by  the  Canaries  in  1607."     Stith  p.  44. 

Row,  ;/.  A  noisy  disturbance;  a  riot;  a  riotous  noise  or  out- 
break; any  disorderly  or  disturbing  affray,  brawl,  hubbub, 
or  clatter. 

Row,  v.  To  behave  in  a  wild  and  riotous  way;  engage  in  a 
noisy  dispute,  affray. 

Rowling-house,  ;/.  Rolling  house,  or  landing  place  for  to- 
bacco. The  house  where  tobacoo  was  rolled  down  to  the 
landing  for  loading  on  a  vessel. 

Rubbage,  n.     Rubbish;  waste,  broken  or  worn  out  material. 

Ruck,  ;/.  A  fold,  crease,  or  pucker  in  the  material  of  a  gar- 
ment, resulting  from  faults  in  the  making. 

Ruck,  v.  To  wrinkle;  crease;  pucker;  usually  with  up:  as,  to 
ruck  up  cloth.  (2)  To  become  creased  and  wrinkle;  draw 
up  in  wrinkles  and  puckers.  "  My  shirt  is  rucked  up  under 
my  arms." 

Ruck,  n.  A  narrow  track  worn  or  cut  in  the  ground;  especially, 
the  hollowed  track  made  by  a  wheel  in  passing  over  the 
ground.     The  road  is  full  of  rucks;  it  is  very  rucky. 

Rucky,  adj.  Full  of  rucks.  "The  road  is  very  rucky  and 
wants  mending. " 

Ruction,  n.  A  vexation  or  annoyance;  also,  a  disturbance;  a 
row  or  rumpus. 

Ruff,  >i.      Roof.      "The  ruff  of  his  mouth." 

Ruffle,  7'.  To  disquiet;  discompose;  agitate;  disturb;  annoy; 
vex.  To  ruffle  cur's  feathers.  To  irritate  one;  make  one 
angry;  disturb  or  fret. 


Rug — Rumpus.  311 

Rug,  n.  A  thick,  nappy  material  used  as  a  covering  for  the 
floor;  a  mat  usually  oblong  or  square,  and  woven  in  one 
piece.  (2)  A  thick,  heavy  covering,  ordinarily  woollen,  and 
having  a  shaggy  nap;  a  covering  for  a  bed. 

Ruinate,  v.  To  fall  in  ruins.  To  bring  to  ruin;  overthrow; 
undo. 

Ruination,  ;/.  The  act  of  ruining,  or  the  state  of  being  rui- 
nated; ruin. 

Rule,  n.  A  flat  piece  of  wood  used  for  punishing  children  at 
school,  by  striking  them  on  the  palm  of  the  open  hand.  A 
ferule. 

Rullock,  n.      Rowlock. 

Rulluck,  n.  A  tattered  garment;  a  rag.  Rullucks.  A  form 
of  relics.  Odds  and  ends  of  dolls'  clothes.  Old  clothes. 
"  Rullucks  and  jullucks." 

Rumbling,  n.     A  rumble;  a  peculiar  rumbling  in  the  bowels. 

Rum-blossom,  n.  A  pimple  on  the  nose  caused  by  excessive 
drinking. 

Rumbustious,  adj.  Boisterous;  careless  of  the  comfort  of 
others;  violent. 

Rummage,  v.  To  move  to  and  fro  the  contents  of,  as  in  a 
search;  ransack;  hunt  through,  explore.  To  search  nar- 
rowly, especially  by  moving  about  and  looking  among  the 
things  in  the  place  searched;  execute  a  search. 

Rump,  n.     The  tail-end  of  an   animal;    the  hinder  parts;   the 

backside  or  buttocks. 
Rumple,  ;/.     A  wrinkle;  a  fold;  a  ridge. 

Rumple,  v.  To  wrinkle;  make  uneven;  form  into  irregular 
inequalities. 

Rumpless,  adj.  Having  no  tail,  specially  noting  male  and  fe- 
male specimens  of  the  common  hen  so  characterized. 

Rumpus,  n.  An  uproar;  a  disturbance;  a  riot;  a  noisy  or  dis- 
orderly outbreak. 


312  Run — Running-horse. 

Run,  n.  A  small  stream  of  water  running  in  one  direction;  a 
rivulet;  a  brook.  "  Stoney  Run;"  "Allen  Jones's  Run." 
"Horse  Run." 

Run,  v.  To  melt  or  be  melted.  "  The  rossum  runs  out  of  the 
wood  with  the  hot  sun."  (2)  Colours  in  cloth  run  by  wash- 
ing. 

Run,  v.  "  Run  as  hard  as  I  can  pour."  To  run  as  fast  as  one 
can. 

Run,  v.  To  sew  lightly.  "She  didn't  have  time  to  sew  it, 
but  only  to  run  it  together." 

Run,  v.  In  the  sense  of  to  carry.  "T's  schooner  has  begun 
to  run  wood  to  town  again,  the  oyster-season  being  over." 

Runabout,  //.  A  gadabout;  a  vagabond.  "  He  is  such  a  run- 
about that  he  will  never  do  anything. ' ' 

Runaround,  n.  A  disease  of  the  finger  where  the  inflamma- 
tion runs  around  the  nail. 

Runaway,  n.  A  negro  who  had  escaped  from  the  control  of 
his  master  and  was  in  hiding. 

Runaway,  adj.  Acting  the  part  of  a  runaway;  escaping  or 
breaking  from  control;  defying  or  overcoming  restraint. 

Run  down,  :■.     To  disparage;  to  malign. 

Run  mad,  v.  To  lose  the  mind.  "  That  sort  of  thing  would 
run  me  /uad." 

Runner,  ;/.     The  upper  millstone. 

Running,  prep.  Approaching;  going  on.  "He's  been  living- 
there  now  running  on  ten  years." 

Running-blackberry,  n.  The  dewberry;  it  trails  on  the 
ground,  bearing  small  blackberries. 

Running-chair,  n.  (?)  A  two-wheel  carriage  drawn  by  one 
horse/by  the  side  of  which  a  footman  ran.   (?) 

Running-horse,;^.  Racehorse.  "The  high-bred  and  cele- 
brated Run/iino-  horse." 


Run  on — Sack-bag.  313 

Run  on,  v.  To  talk  together  in  a  free  and  easy  way.  "  They 
sit  there  and  run  on  all  day  long. ' ' 

Runt,  n.  An  undersized  animal;  the  smallest  of  a  litter  of  pigs. 
Applied  to  persons. 

Run  to,  v.  For  a  servant  to  have  everything  to  run  to,  means 
that  access  is  given  to  all  household  stores;  that  there  is  no 
locking  up. 

Runty,  adj.     Stunted;  dwarfish;  little. 

Rupture,  n.     Abdominal  hernia. 

Rush,  n.  Extreme  urgency  of  affairs;  urgent  pressure;  extra- 
ordinary effort  or  haste:  as,  a  rush  of  business.  Go  with  a 
rusk. 

Rush-bottomed,  adj.  Having  a  bottom  or  seat  made  with 
rushes:  as,  a  rush-bottomed  chair. 

Rusher,  ;/.     A  go-ahead  person.      "  He's  a  rusher." 

Rusty,  adj.     Rancid:   " rusty  bacon." 

Rusty,  adj.  Out  of  practice;  dulled  in  skill  or  knowledge 
through  disuse  or  inactivity.  (2)  Unruly;  ill-humoured; 
he  cut  up  rusty;  applied  to  persons  or  horses. 

Rut,  n.     The  period  of  heat  in  animals. 

Ruvver,  n.      River. 

Rye,  ;/.     Whiskey  made  from  rye.      "  Old  rye." 

Ryner,  n.     Riddle?     "  Five  Brass  Wyre  Wheat  Ryner." 


Sacer,  n.     Sasser.     Saucer.      "  Cup  and  sasser." 

Sack,  n.      To  get  the  sack,  to  be  dismissed  from  employment; 
or  rejected  as  a  suitor. 

Sack,  v.     Discharge  or  dismiss  from  employment,  office,  etc.; 
also,  to  reject  the  suit  of:  as,  to  sack  a  lover. 

Sack-bag,  ;/.     A  bag  holding  three  bushels  of  grain. 


c 


314  Sacking-bottomed — Sail. 

Sacking-bottomed,  adj.  Having  a  sheet  of  sacking  stretched 
between  the  rails,  as  an  old  fashioned  bedstead,  to  form  a 
support  for  the  bed. 

Sad,  adj.  Dark;  sombre;  sober;  quiet;  applied  to  colour:  as, 
a  sad  brown.     (2)   Heavy;  sobby:  as  bread. 

Sadday,  n.     For  Saturday. 

Saddle-backed,  adj.  Hollow-backed;  sway-backed;  said  of  a 
horse. 

Saddle-blanket,  ;/.  A  blanket  of  small  size  and  coarse  make, 
used  folded  under  a  saddle. 

Safe,  n.  A  receptable  for  the  storage  of  meat  and  provisions. 
Usually  a  skeleton  frame  of  wood  covered  with  a  fine  wire- 
netting  to  keep  out  insects.  \ 

Safe,  adj.     Reliable.      A  safe  man  Is  one  who  may  be  trusted. 

Safeguard,  n.  A  skirt  which  was  formerly  worn  by  women 
when  they  rode  on  a  pillion. 

Saft,  adj.     For  soft. 

Sag,  //.  A  bending  or  drooping,  as  of  a  rope  fastened  at  its 
ends;  pr  of  a  surface;  droop. 

Sag,  v.  To  droop,  especially  in  the  middle;  settle  or  sink 
through  weakness  or  lack  of  support;  to  subside  by  its  own 

weight. 

Sagaciate,  v.  To  do  or  be  in  any  way;  think,  talk,  or  act,  as 
indicating  a  state  of  mind  or  body:  as,  "  How  do  you  saga- 
ciate this  morning?  " 

Sage,  ;/.      A  plant,  the  common  garden  sage. 

Sagging,  >i.  That  form  of  breakage  in  which  the  middle  part 
sinks  more  than  the  ends. 

Sail,  v.  To  move  forward  impressively,  as  if  in  the  manner  of 
a  ship  with  all  sail  set.  "  Mrs.  C.  sailed  in,  and  the  dancing 
was  kept  up  till  late."  (2)  To  move  slowly  and  steadily 
through  the  air,  as  a  bird. 


Saint  Ant'ny's  fire— Sap.  315 

Saint  Ant'ny's  fire,;/.      Erysipelas. 

Sake,  ;/.  Cause;  account;  reason;  interest;  regard  to  any  per- 
son or  thing:  as,  "for  my  sake." 

Salary,  //.  Sallary.  Commission  paid  to  the  sheriff  for  col- 
lecting the  levies. 

Salary,  //.     Celery. 

Sallet,  ;/.  No  connection  with  salt  or  salad.  Applied  to  fresh, 
green  herbs  that  are  cooked  for  food:  as,  "  turnip- sallet. " 

Salmon-trout,  ;/.  A  fish  in  Virginia  waters  which  resembles 
both  a  salmon  and  a  trout. 

Salt,  ;/.  It  is  unlucky  to  spill  salt.  The  bad  luck  will  fall  on 
the  person  in  whose  direction  the  salt  falls.  The  bad  luck 
may  be  overcome  by  throwing  a  pinch  of  the  spilt  salt  with 
the  right  hand  over  the  left  shoulder.     (2)  Salt-cellar. 

Salt-box,  n.     A  box  for  keeping  salt  for  house-use. 

Salte,  adj.      Lecherous;  salacious.      "  Badd  as  anie  salte  bitch." 

Salts,  n.     Epsom  salt,  taken  as  a  medicine. 

Salty,  adj.     Somewhat  salt;  saltish. 

Salvatory,  ;/.  A  place  where  things  are  preserved;  a  reposi- 
tory, a  safe. 

Sampler,  n.  A  large  piece  of  cloth  or  canvass  on  which  many 
patterns  are  worked  side  by  side. 

Sand-beach,  n.  A  streach  of  sand  on  the  sea  or  river  left  dry 
by  the  tide.      "  There  is  a  sand-beach  five  miles  long." 

Sand-burr,  n.  The  prickly  burr  of  a  grass  growing  in  sandy 
soil. 

Sandifer,  n.     Surname.     Slag  found  in  making  glass. 

Sandy,  adj.  Of  the  colour  of  sand;  of  a  yellowish-red  colour: 
as,  sandy -hair '. 

Sangaree,  //.  Red  wine  diluted  with  water,  sweetened,  and 
flavoured  with  nutmeg,  used  as  a  cold  drink. 

Sap,  n.     The  soft  outside  part  of  timber. 


316  Saphead — Sassage. 

Saphead,  ;/.     So  called  in  allusion  to  his  freshness  and  green- 
ness.     A  silly  fellow. 
Sap-headed,  adj.     Silly;  foolish. 

Sapling,  >i.     A  young   tree.      Especially  applied   to  a  young 
forest  tree  when  its  trunk  is  three  or  four  inches  through. 

Sappy,  adj.     Weak;    foolish;    silly;  sap-headed.       (2)  Timber 

that  has  much  more  sap  than  heart. 
Sapsucker,  n.     Small  spotted  woodpecker. 

Sarch,  v.     Search.      A  sarching  wind,  one  that  finds  entrance 
to  the  body,  and  very  cold;  penetrating;  keen. 

Sardine,  n.     An  insignificant  or  contemptible  person;  a  petty 

character. 
Sarment,  >i.     A  sermon.     Sarmon. 

Sars,  ;/.      Search;  searce.     A  fine  hair  sifter. 

Sartain,  adj.     A  form  of  certain.     Sartin. 

Sarvant,  n.     A  form  of  servant. 

Sarve,  v.     For  serve. 

Sarvis,  n.     Service. 

Sash-light,  )i.      Window-light;  pane  of  glass  in  a  window. 

Saspanne,  ?i.     Saucepan. 

Sass,  ;/.  Vegetables,  particularly  those  used  in  making  sauces: 
as  garden  sass.     Same  as  sauce. 

Sass,  ;/.      Insolence;  impudence. 

Sass,  v.     To    talk   or    reply  saucily;  be    insolent   in    replying. 
2     To  sauce;  be  saucy  to;  sassy. 

Sassafras,  ;/.  Tea  is  made  from  the  dried  bark  of  the  root. 
Salloopt  salop,  salap.  "Sassafras  tea,  flavoured  with  milk 
and  sugar  is  sold  at  daybreak  in  the  streets  of  London  under 
the  name  ot  sa/oop.' ' 

Sassage,  n.  Chopped  or  minced  meat,  as  poke,  beef,  or  veal, 
seasoned  with  sage-,  pepper,  salt,  etc.,  and  stuffed  into  prop- 
erly cleaned  entrails  of  the  ox,  or  hog,  tied  or  constricted 
at  short  intervals. 


Sasser— Scald-head.  317 

Sasser,  n.     For  saucer. 

Sassinger,  n.     Sausage.  Vf 

Sassy,  adj.     Saucy.      "  He's  a  sassy  fellow." 

Sauce-boat,  n.  An  oblong  crockery  vessel  with  a  spout  for 
holding  sauce,  or  gravy. 

Saunter,  n.     A  leisurely,  careless  gait. 

Saunter,  v.  To  move  or  walk  in  a  leisurely,  listless,  or  unde- 
cided way;  loiter.  "  He  does  nothing  but  saunter  about  all 
day." 

Satan's  mark,  n.  pi.  Five  small  pits  on  the  skin  of  the  inside 
of  foreleg  in  hogs  where  satan  entered  before  the  drove  ran 
down  the  cliff  into  the  sea. 

Save,  v.  To  house  a  crop.  ' '  I  have  finished  saving  my  corn. ' ' 
' '  The  fodder  is  all  saved. 

Save-all,  n.  A  small  pan,  of  china  or  metal,  with  a  sharp  point 
in  the  middle,  fitted  to  the  socket  of  a  candlestick,  to  allow 
the  short  socket-end  of  a  candle  to  be  burnt  without  waste. 

Sawder,  n.     Flattery;  blarney.      "Soft-sawder." 

Saw-pit,  n.  A  pit  over  which  timber  is  sawn  by  two  men,  one 
standing  below  the  timber,  the  other  above  it. 

Say,  v.  When  children  recite  their  lessons  they  are  said  to 
' '  say  their  lessons. ' ' 

Say-so,  ;/.  A  saying  or  assertion;  especially  an  authoritative 
declaration.  (2)  A  personal  assertion;  an  expression  of  in- 
dividual opinion.      "We'll  have  to  take  his  say-so  for  it. " 

Scaffling,  n.  Scaffolding.  Materials  for  scaffolds.  A  scaffold 
for  building. 

Scald,  v.  Hogs  after  they  are  killed  are  put  into  very  hot 
water  to  make  the  hair  come  off  easily,  that  they  may  be 
picked;  this  is  called  scaldi?ig. 

Scald-head,  n.     A  disease  in  the  skin  of  the  head;  excema. 


318  Scalloped — Scarecrow. 

Scalloped,  p.  a.  Scalloped-oysters,  oysters  baked  with  bread- 
crumbs, cream,  pepper,  salt,  and  butter.  This  should  be 
done  always  in  scallop-shells. 

Scallop-shell,  n.     A  scallop,  or  the  shell  or  valve  of  one. 

Scaly,  adj.     Shabby;  mean;  stingy. 

Scamp,  ii.     A  worthless  fellow;  a  swindler;  a  mean  villain;  a 

rascal;  a  rogue. 
Scamper,  v.     To  run  with  speed;  hasten  away. 

Scampish,  adj.  Pertaining  to  or  like  a  scamp;  knavish;  ras- 
cally. 

Scant,  adj.  Short  in  quantity;  scarcely  sufficient;  rather  less 
than  is  wanted  for  the  purpose;  not  enough;  scanty.  Sca?it 
fare;  scant  wind.     Sparing;  parsimonious. 

Scantling,  ?i.     Wood  cut  to  special  sizes  for  carpenters'  use. 

Scanty,  adj.  Lacking  extent;  narrow;  small;  scant.  Limited 
in  scope,  copiousness,  fullness,  or  abundance;  barely  suffi- 
cient for  use  or  necessity.     (2)  Sparing;  niggardly. 

Scape-gallows,  ;/.  One  who  has  escaped  the  gallows  though 
deserving;  a  villain. 

Scape-grace,  ;/.  A  graceless  fellow;  a  careless,  idle,  hare- 
brained fellow. 

Scarce,  adj.  To  make  one  s  self'  scarce,  get  out  of  the  way; 
leave  at  once. 

Scarcely,  adv.      Hardly;  barely;  with  difficulty. 

Scare,  >i.  A  sudden  fright  or  panic;  particularly  applied  to  a 
sudden  terror  or  fear  inspired  by  a  trifling  cause,  or  a  purely 
imaginative  or  causeless  terror. 

Scare,  v.  To  frighten;  terrify  suddenly;  strike  with  terror  or 
tear. 

Scarecrow,  u.  A  figure  of  old  clothes,  made  in  resemblance 
of  a  man,  and  set  in  a  cornfield  or  garden  to  frighten  off 
crows  and  other  birds  from  the-  crops.  (2)  A  person  so 
poor  and  meanly  clad  as  to  look  like  a  scarecrow. 


Scare-face — School-teacher.  319 

Scare-face,  n.  A  mask  made  of  pasteboard,  for  scaring  chil- 
dren. 

Scary,  adj.      Inclined  to  be  scared;  subject  to  scares;  timid. 

Scase,  adj.     A  form  of  scarce. 

Scasely,  adv.     A  form  of  scarcely. 

Scat,  interj.  Be  off;  begone;  addressed  to  cats  and  other  small 
animals.     (2)  Said  to  a  person  when  he  sneezes.      "Scat/' 

Scat,  v.     To  scare  or  drive  away  by  crying  "  scat." 

Scaths,  n.      Having  loss;  damage. 

Scatteration,  n.  A  scattering  or  dispersion;  a  breaking  up 
and  departing  in  all  directions. 

Scatterbrain,  ;/.  A  thoughtless,  giddy  person;  one  incapable 
of  serious,  connected  thought. 

Scattering,  n.  One  of  a  number  of  disconnected  or  fragment- 
ary things.  "In  the  congregation  were  a  good  many 
women  and  a  scattering  of  men." 

School,  n.  A  large  number  of  fish,  or  porpoises,  or  the  like, 
feeding  together. 

School-basket,  n.  A  small  basket  made  of  fine  white  oak 
splints,  in  which  children  carried  their  dinner  to  the  country 
schools. 

School-butter,  n.  A  word  of  obscure  origin  and  meaning  but 
of  the  greatest  insult  to  schoolboys.  When  called  out  to 
them  by  a  passer  of  the  old  country  school-house  he  could 
only  save  himself  by  flight  from  their  wrath. 

School-days,  n.  pi.  The  time  of  life  at  which  children  attend 
school;  time  passed  at  school. 

Schoolin,  ;;.  Instruction  in  school;  tuition.  Education.  'He 
didn't  have  much  sc//oo/m." 

Schoolmarster,  n.     A  man  who  teaches  school. 

School-teacher,  n.  One  who  gives  regular  instruction  in  a 
school. 


320  School-teaching — Scours. 

School-teaching,  n.      The  business  of  instruction  in  a  school. 

Science,  ;/.     A  scion;  a  shoot. 

Scold,  n.     A  scolding:  as,  she  gave  him  a  good  scold. 

Sconce,  n.      A  blockhouse;  an  earthwork. 

Scoop,  n.  A  wooden  shovel  with  a  short  handle  for  bailing 
water  out  of  a  boat. 

Scoot,  v.  To  run,  fly,  or  make  off  with  haste  and  directness; 
dart. 

Scorch,  v.  To  burn  superficially;  subject  to  a  degree  of  heat 
that  changes  the  colour,  or  both  the  colour  and  the  texture 
of  the  surface. 

Scorched,/),  a.     Burnt;  parched  with  heat. 

Scorcher,  n.  Anything  that  is  very  hot:  as,  "This  day  has 
been  a  scorcher. ' ' 

Scorching,  adj.  A  high  fever  with  dry  skin  is  called  a  "scorch- 
ing fever." 

Score,  n.  A  large  chip  split  from  the  side  of  a  stick  of  timber 
when  hewed,  dried  and  used  for  firewood. 

Scot,  u.     One's  share  of  expense.      "  Pay  your  scot." 

Scotch,  n.  A  prop  put  behind  or  before  a  wheel,  to  prevent 
its  moving,  or  placed  under  a  log  to  keep  it  from  rolling. 

Scotch,  v.  To  prop  or  block,  as  the  wheel  of  a  coach  or  wag- 
gon, with  a  stone  or  other  obstacle. 

Scotch-broom,  ;/.      A  plant,  the  common  broom. 

Scot-free,  adj.      Unhurt;  clear;  safe. 

Scour,  v.  To  purge  thoroughly  or  with  violence;  purge  dras- 
tically. 

Scouring-sand,  >i.  Clean,  tine  sand  used  for  scouring  floors. 
"  White  scouring-sand" 

Scours,  ;/.  pi.  A  kind  of  diarrhoea  or  dysentery  among  cattle 
or  other  animals;  violent  purging. 


Scout — Scraunch.  321 

Scout,  v.  To  ridicule;  sneer  at;  treat  with  disdain  and  con- 
tempt; reject  with  scorn.     ■ 

Scovy,  n.     A  Muscovy  duck. 

Scraggly,  adj.  Having  or  presenting  a  rough,  irregular,  or 
ragged  appearance:  as,  a  scraggly  beard. 

Scraggy,  adj.     Lean;  thin;  bony;  poor;  scrawny. 

Scramble,  v.  To  struggle  rudely  or  in  a  jostling  manner  with 
others  for  the  purpose  of  grasping  or  getting  something; 
strive  eagerly,  rudely,  and  without  ceremony  for  or  as  if  for 
something  thrown  on  the  ground.     To  fight. 

Scrambly,  adj.  Eager,  rude  contest  or  struggle  for  the  posses- 
sion of  something  offered  or  desired;  an  unceremonious 
jostling  or  pushing  for  the  possession  of  something. 

Scrambly,  adj.       Straggling;  irregular;  haphazzard;  random. 

Scrap,  n.  A  small  piece,  properly  something  scraped  off;  a 
detached  portion;  a  bit;  a  fragment;  a  remnant.  '  A  scrap 
of  paper." 

Scrape,  n.  An  embarrassing  position,  usually  due  to  impru- 
dence and  thoughtlessness;  a  difficulty.  "He  got  himself 
into  a  scrape. ' ' 

Scrapings,  n.  pi.     Savings;  hard  earnings;  hoardings. 

Scrappy,  adj.  Consisting  of  scraps;  made  up  of  odds  and 
ends;  fragmentary. 

Scratch,  n.  A  scrawl.  A  piece  of  unskillfull  or  inelegant 
writing. 

Scratch,  v.  To  scratch  along,  to  scramble  on;  get  along  some- 
how; to  pull  through  hard  times. 

Scratch   together,  v.      To   scrape   together;    to   accumulate 

hardly,  and  by  little  and  little. 
Scratchy,  adj.     Consisting  of  mere  scratches;  ragged;  rough; 

irregular. 
Scraunch,  v.     To  grind  with  the  teeth,  with  a  crackling  sound; 

craunch. 

21 


322  Scrawly — Scrouge. 

Scrawly,  adj.  Scrawling;  loose;  ill-formed  and  irregular:  not- 
ing writing  or  manuscript. 

Scrawny,  adj.  Meagre;  wasted;  raw-boned;  lean:  as,  a 
scrawny  person. 

Screak,  v.  To  utter  a  sharp,  shrill  sound  or  outcry;  also,  to 
creak,  as  a  door  or  wheel. 

Screamer,  ?/.  Something  very  great,  excellent  or  exciting;  a 
thing  that  attracts  the  attention  or  draws  forth  screams  of 
astonishment,  delight,  etc.;  a  whacker,  a  bouncer. 

Screek,  v.  Anticipating  pain  with  fear;  imitating  the  noise 
made. 

Screenings,  ;/.  pi.  The  small  or  defective  grains  of  wheat 
separated  by  sifting. 

Screw,  ;/.  A  stingy  fellow;  a  close  or  penurious  person;  one 
who  makes  a  sharp  bargain;  an  extortioner;  a  miser;  a 
skinflint. 

Screw,  v.  To  press  hard  upon;  oppress  as  by  exactions  or 
vexatious  restrictions  or  conditions. 

Screw,  v.     To  crouch.     To  be  screwed  up  in  a  corner. 

Scribble,  ii.      Hurried  or  careless  writing;  a  scrawl. 

Scribe,  n.  A  pointed  instrument  used  to  make  marks  on  wood, 
metal,  etc.,  to  serve  as  a  guide  in  sawing,  cutting,  etc. 

Scriggle,  v.  To  writhe;  to  struggle  or  twist  about  with  more 
or  less  force;  wriggle. 

Scrimmage,  ;/.     A  confused  row  or  contest;  a  tussle. 

Scrimp,  adj.  Scrimpy.  Scanty;  narrow;  deficient;  contracted; 
mean;  pinched  hospitality. 

Scrimption, ;/.  A  small  portion,  a  pittance:  as,  just  a  scrimp- 
tion  of  salt. 

Scrooch,  :■.  To  draw  up  in  a  small  space.  "  You  sit  scrooched 
up  in  the  cornder." 

Scrouge,  v.     To  squeeze;  press;  crowd. 


Scrouger — Sea-coal.  323 

Scrouger,  n.  One  who  scrouges;  figuratively,  something  big; 
a  whopper. 

Scrub,  n.  A  mean  or  common  fellow.  Anything  mean  and 
small.      (2)  Short,  rough,  stunted  trees.     Scrub  oaks. 

Scrub,  n.  Scrub-broom.  A  worn  out  broom,  used  for  scrub- 
bing purposes.  Also,  a  broom  made  of  young,  green, 
white-oak,  and  used  for  the  same  purpose. 

Scrubby,  adj.  Of  inferior  breed  or  stunted  growth;  stunted; 
hence,  small,  shabby,  mean;  contemptible. 

Scruff,  n.     Scurf;  dandruff. 

Scruff,  n.  The  nape  of  the  neck.  ' '  He  took  him  by  the  scruff 
of  the  neck." 

Scruffly,  adj.  Scurvy;  scabby;  resembling  or  consisting  of 
scurf. 

Scrumptious,  adj.     Fine;  nice;  particular;  fastidious. 

Scrunch,  v.  To  crush  as  with  the  teeth;  crunch.  So  squeeze; 
crush. 

Scud,  n.  A  light,  rapid  shower  of  rain.  Also,  thin,  rapid- 
passing  raincloud. 

Scuff,  n.     A  scurf;  a  scale. 

Scuff,  n.     The  back  part  of  the  neck. 

Scuffle,  11.     Hurry;  bustle. 

Scufflle  along,  v.  A  person  in  bad  circumstances  who  still 
' '  keeps  his  head  above  water, ' '  is  said  to  scuffle  along. 

Scum,  n.     That  which  rises  to  the  top  when  a  liquid  is  boiled. 

Scum-milk,  n.     Milk  with  the  cream  taken  off. 

Scuppernong,  n.     A  wild  grape. 

Scythe-cradle,  n.  A  scythe  blade  with  a  light  wooden  frame- 
work attached  for  catching  the  grain  as  it  is  cut,  and  to  lay 
it  down. 

Sea-coal,  n.  Coal  dug  out  of  the  ground,  and  carried  by  sea 
to  London;  also,  pit-coal,  distinguished  from  charcoal. 


324  Sea-bed— Seeking. 

Sea-bed,  n.  Probably  a  narrow  mattress  for  one  person,  as  in 
a  ship's  bunk.      Hammock  ? 

Search,  n.     A  hair  sieve;  a  sieve,  especially  a  fine  sieve.     Searce. 

Search,  v.     Searce.     To  sift  through  a  search. 

Sea-side,  n.  The  Atlantic  side  of  Accomack  and  Northamp- 
ton counties. 

Season,  ;/.  Used  for  weather.  Season  is  a  shower,  or  spell  of 
rain.      "  Long  season  in  May." 

Seasoning,  n.     Condiments  added  to  food  to  improve  the  taste. 

Seasoning,  n.  A  spell  of  sickness  that  attacked  newcomers; 
the  sickness  of  climation.  "A  seasoned  hand,"  not  a  "  nezv- 
hand." 

Sea-wrack,  n.  Coarse  seaweeds  of  any  kind  that  are  cast  on 
the  shore. 

Seben,  n.     For  seven.      "  It  comes  to  seben  dollars." 

Second-handed,  adj.  At  second  hand.  " Second-handed 
clothes." 

Seconds,  n.  pi.  The  flour  of  the  second  degree  of  fineness, 
between  flour  and  bran. 

Sedge-hen,  n.     A  marsh-hen. 

See,  v.     To  visit.      "  You  must  come  to  see  me  when  you  come 

our  way." 
Seed,  v.     To  sow  grain:   as,    "I  have  finished  seeding  wheat 

to-day." 

Seed-basket,  n.  A  basket  carried  on  the  arm  from  which  seed 
wheat  was  sown. 

Seed-tick,  n.     Usually  "see'tick."     A  young  or  small  tick. 

Seedy,  adj.     Run  to  seed;  no  longer  fresh,  new  or  prosperous; 

worn-out;  shabby;  poor.      (2)  Looking  or  feeling  wretched, 

as  after  a  debauch;  not  well;  out  of  sorts. 
Seeking,  v.       A  person  who  is  concerned  about  his  future  state 

is  said  to  be  "seeking  religion,"  and  when  he  has  "  found  " 

is  said  to  be  "  converted. ' ' 


Seep— Service-tree.  325 

Seep,  v.      To  soak  through  gently;  trickle.       "'Seep  through." 

See-saw,  n.  A  sport  in  which  two  children  sit  one  at  each 
end  of  a  board  or  long  piece  of  timber  balanced  on  some 
support,  and  move  alternately  up  and  down. 

See  to,  v.  To  attend  to.  "  I'll  see  to  that  the  first  thing  to- 
morrow morning. ' ' 

Seine-needle,  n.  A  needle  with  which  the  meshes  of  a  seine 
are  netted. 

Seizing-dog,  n.  A  large,  strong  dog  for  seizing  and  holding 
animals. 

Seldum,  adv.     For  seldom. 

Sell,  n.  An  imposition;  a  cheat;  a  deception;  a  trick  played 
at  another's  expense. 

Selvage,  n.  That  part  of  the  web  at  each  edge  which  is  not 
finished  like  the  surface  of  the  cloth,  and  which  is  meant  to 
be  torn  away  when  the  material  is  made  up,  or  for  use  in 
making  the  seam. 

Sence,  adv.     Since. 

Sense,  n.  Sound  or  clear  mind.  Ordinary,  normal,  or  clear 
mental  action;  especially  in  the  plural,  with  a  collective 
force. 

Senses,  n.  pi.      "  Scared  out  of  his  seven  senses." 

Senseless,  adj.  Without  meaning,  or  contrary  to  reason  or 
sound  judgement;   ill-judged;  unwise;  foolish;  nonsensical. 

Sep,  Seps,  adv.  Except:  unless.  "I  knowed  'em  all  seps 
two."  "  I  don't  know  the  place,  and  I  can't  find  the  way 
sep  somebody  shows  me. ' ' 

Servant,  n.  At  the  early  settling  "a  servant  of "  meant  "in 
the  service  of;"  it  had  not  as  menial  a  meaning  as  now. 
Servant  and  service  might  be  of  high  character. 

Service-tree,  n.  A  tree  bearing  small  pear-shaped  or  apple- 
shaped  fruit.  (2)  Service  apples,  the  fruit  of  the  service- 
tree. 


326  Ses— Set  out. 

Ses,  n.     A  form  of  cease;  cessation. 

Set,  v.     To  sit:  as,  "I  was  setting  in  my  chair." 

Set,  v.  To  direct  or  accompany  one  on  his  way:  as,  to  set  him 
across  the  river. 

Set,  v.  Obstinate;  self-willed;  determined.  "  He  is  set  on 
going." 

Set,  v.  To  put  a  hen  on  a  nest  containing  eggs,  for  the  purpose 
of  hatching  them.  To  put  eggs  under  a  hen  or  other  bird 
in  a  nest,  for  the  purpose  of  hatching  them.  (2)  "  A  set- 
ting of  eggs,"  the  number  of  eggs  on  which  a  hen  sets  at 
one  hatching,  usually  thirteen. 

Set,  v.  To  plant.  "  It  is  a  good  day  to  set  potatoes."  "  I'll 
begin  to  set  corn  to-morrow. "  "I  am  going  to  set  out  some 
trees." 

Set,/,  a.  Formed;  built;  made;  noting  the  person:  as,  well- 
set;  thick-set.     (2)  Sharp-^/,  very  hungry;  ravenous. 

Set  a  stitch,  v.  To  sew.  "They  never  think  that  I  set  a 
stitch." 

Setback,;/.  Check  to  progress;  the  losing  of  ground;  relapse; 
reverse.      ' '  He  had  more  than  one  setback. ' ' 

Set-by,  v.     To  value  or  hold  in  estimation.     To  set  store  by. 

Set  down,  n.  A  depressing  or  humiliating  rebuke  or  repre- 
hension; a  rebuff;  an  unexpected  and  overwhelming  answer 
or  reply. 

Set- fast,  >i.     A  hard  swelling. 

Set  horses,  v.     To  agree.      "  They  set  horses  very  well." 

Set  in,  v.  To  begin  with  a  set  purpose:  as,  it  has  set  in  for  a 
rainy  day. 

Setlins,  ;/.      Settlings.     Sediment;  dregs. 

Set  on,  v.  To  sew  on,  as  buttons.  "  I  must  set  the  buttons  on 
his  jacket." 

Set  out,  n.  A  display,  as  of  plate,  dishes,  etc.,  at  table. 
"  There  was  a  grand  set  out  at  the  wedding." 


Setting-down— Shaant.  327 

Setting-down,  n.  A  rebuke.  "  I  like  to  see  that  upstart  get 
a  setting-down.' ' 

Setting-of-eggs,  n.  A  setting  of  eggs  must  always  be  an  odd 
number.  For  a  hen,  thirteen,  twelve  chickens  and  a  bad 
one. 

Settle,  v.  To  plant  with  inhabitants;  colonize;  people.  (2)  To 
establish  a  residence;  take  up  permanent  habitation  or  abode. 
(3)  To  sink,  as  the  foundations  or  floor  of  a  building;  be- 
coming lowered,  as  by  the  yielding  of  earth  or  timbers  be- 
neath. 

Settle,  v.     To  pay  one's  bill;  discharge  a  claim  or  demand. 

Settled,  adj.  Sober;  grave.  "A  settled  white  woman  to  assist 
in  household  duties." 

Settle  down,  v.  To  be  established  in  a  way  of  life;  to  enter 
the  married  state  or  the  state  of  a  householder. 

Settlement,  n.  Payment;  arrangement  of  accounts.  "After 
great  trouble  we  finally  had  a  settlement. 

Set  to,  v.     To  begin  in  earnest.      "Here  is  the  work,  now  set 

tor 

Set  up,  v.  A  person  was  told  to  "  set  up  "  and  "  catch  hold:  " 
that  is,  to  sit  up  to  the  table  and  help  himself  to  the  food. 
"Set  up  and  take  holt." 

Seven-sleepers,  n.  A  sleepy-headed  person,  hard  to  wake, 
is  said  to  be  one  of  the  seven-sleepers. 

Seven-up,  n.     A  game  with  cards,  the  same  as  all-fours. 

Sewed-up,  v.     To  be  drunk. 

Sewing-cotton,  //.  Cotton  thread  made  for  plain  sewing,  in 
white  or  printed  cotton  goods. 

Sewing-needle,  n.  A  needle  used  in  ordinary  sewing,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  a  sail-needle,  an  embroidering  needle  and 
others. 

Shaant,  v.  Shall  not,  with  broad  a.  "  He  thinks  he  will  but 
he  shaant. 


328  Shabby— Shalves. 

Shabby,  adj.  Of  mean  appearance;  noting  clothes  and  other 
things  which  are  worn,  or  show  poverty  or  decay,  or  per- 
sons wearing  such  clothes;  seedy. 

Shackly,  adj.     Shaky;  rickety  tottering;  ramshackle. 

Shad-bellied,  adj.  Sloping  away  gradually  in  front;  cutaway: 
as,  a  shad-bellied  coat. 

Shade,  n.  A  shed.  "Crab  shade."  "  Ceavt-shade ; "  cart- 
shed.     (2)  Shed  to  a  building. 

Shady,  adj.  Such  as  cannot  bear  the  light;  as  of  doubtfull 
honesty  or  morality.  (2)  On  the  shady  side  of,  beyond; 
used  with  reference  to  age:  as,  to  be  on  the  shady-side  of 
forty. 

Shaggy,  adj.  Rough,  coarse,  or  unkempt;  thick,  rough  and 
irregular.      Shag-ged. 

Shagtail,  ;/.     A  snapping  turkle. 

Shah.     Shoo,  interj.     Pshaw.     A  peevish  exclamation. 

Shake,  v.     To  shake  a  foot  or  leg,  to  dance. 

Shake,  n.  In  the  plural  and  with  the  definite  article,  the  shakes, 
ague;  intermittent  fever.  (2)  A  brief  moment;  an  instant: 
as,  to  do  a  thing  in  three  shakes  of  a  sheep's  tail,  that  is,  to  do 
it  immediately.  (3)  Great  shakes,  literally  a  thing  of  great 
account;  something  extraordinary;  something  of  value  and 
worth;  usually  in  the  negative:   "  no  great  shakes. " 

Shake-up,  >/.  A  shaking  or  stirring  up;  commotion;  disturb- 
ance. 

Shaking-ague,  n.  A  very  violent  ague.  "Joe  had  a  sheking 
ager  yistiddy." 

Shaky,  adj.  Loosely  put  together;  ready  to  fall  to  pieces;  full 
of  shakes  or  cracks;  cracked,  split,  or  cleft,  as  timber. 
(2)  Feeble;    weak. 

Shalloon,  n.  A  light  woollen  stuff  made  at  Chalons  from 
which  it  takes  its  name 

Shalves,  //.  pi.     Sharves.      Plural  of  shaft.     Ceart-shalves. 


Sham— Shed.  329 

Sham,  n.  A  false  shirt-front;  a  dicky.  (2)  A  false  pillow- 
cover;  a  pillow-j/mw. 

Shamble,  n.     A  shambling  walk  or  gait. 

Shame,  adj.  Tendency  to  feel  distressed  at  any  breach  of  de- 
corum: as,  he  is  shame  to  do  it. 

Shammy,  n.     Same  as  chamois. 

Shanghai,  n.     A  tall  person;  especially  a  tall  dandy. 

Shank,  n.  The  latter  end  or  part  of  anything:  as,  the  shank 
of  the  evening. 

Shanks' s  mare,  n.     On  foot  is  to  ride  shanks'1  s  mare. 

Shan't,  v.     A  contraction  of  shall  not.      1711. 

Shanty,  n.  A  hut  or  mean  dwelling;  a  temporary  building  of 
a  rough  or  flimsy  character. 

Shape,  n.  The  mould  in  which  things  are  cooked,  and  allowed 
to  stand  for  awhile,  then  turned  out  to  be  served.  (2)  The 
small  pie  or  tart  cooked  in  a  shape. 

Sharp,  adj.      Fierce:  as,  a  sharp  dog. 

Sharp-set,  v.      Hungry  and  ready  for  one's  food. 

Sharves,  n.  Plural  of  shaft.  "  Both  the  sharves  were  broken 
short  off."     Shavs. 

Shatters,  n.  pi.  The  leaves  of  the  pine  after  they  have  fallen. 
Pine-shatters. 

Shave,  n.  An  exceedingly  narrow  miss  or  escape:  as,  a  "  close 
shave. ' ' 

Shave,  v.  To  be  hard  or  extortionate  in  bargains;  specifically 
to  buy  notes  or  securities  at  a  greater  discount  than  is  com- 
mon. 

Shaver,  n.     A  young  fellow;  a  youngster. 

She,  n.  A  female  animal;  a  bird,  beast,  or  fish  of  the  female 
sex:  as,  a  ,y/2<?-goat ;  a  she-crab. 

Sheath,  n.     Sheth.     The  skin  covering  a  horse's  yard. 

Shed,  v.     To  fall  off;  to  part  with:  as,  to  shed  the  wool  or  hair, 


330  Sheet— Shimmy. 

as  animals  do  in  the  spring  when  getting  rid  of  the  thick 
winter  suit.  "He  hasn't  shed  his  teeth."  A  snake  sheds 
his  skin. 

Sheet,  n.      To  be  three  sheets  in  the  wind,  to  be  drunk. 

Shekky,  adj.     Dilapidated;  shaky;  ready  to  fall;  in  bad  health. 
"  I  haven't  seen  him  before  but  he  looks  rather  shekky.'" 

Shell,  v.  To  remove  from  the  husk:  as,  to  shell  corn.  Corn- 
sheller,  a  machine  used  for  that  purpose. 

Shell-out,  v.  To  pay.  "  He  had  to  shell-out  five  dollars  for 
his  amusement." 

Sheltery,  adj.     Affording  shelter. 

Shelving,    n.      Sloping.       A  shelving  bank  led  down  to  the 

water. 
Sherk,  n.      A  variant  of  shark. 
Sherry-vallies,  n.  pi.     Thick  cloth  leggings  used  in  riding  to 

keep  off  the  mud. 
She's,  n.  pi.      Females.      "The  goat  has  three  kids,  two  she's 

and  one  //<?." 
Shet,  v.     A  form  of  shut.     Closed. 
Shettle,  n.     The  shuttle  of  a  hand-loom. 
Shier,  n.     For  shire.      "  Linking  shier. " 
Shift,  ;/.     A  division  of  land;  each  shift  is  planted  in  a  different 

crop,  or  lies  fallow  according  to  the  system. 

Shift,  n.  (i)  A  woman's  shirt.  (2)  A  change  of  wind  from 
one  point  of  the  compass  to  another. 

Shift,  v.     To  change  the  clothes. 

Shift-sleeves,  n.  pi.  To  have  the  upper  part  of  a  woman's 
body  uncovered  except  her  shift.  "She  was  working  in 
her  shift-sleeves. 

Shifty,  adj.  Given  to  or  characterized  by  shifts,  tricks,  or 
artifices;  fertile  in  dodges  or  evasions;  tricky. 

Shimmy,  n.  Shimmee.  A  shift.  Chemise.  A  woman's  1111- 
der-garmcnt. 


Shin— Shock.  331 

Shin,  v.  To  use  the  shins  in  climbing;  climb  by  hugging  with 
arms  and  legs. 

Shindig,  ;/.  A  ball  or  dance;  especially,  a  dance  attended  with 
a  shindy  or  much  uproar  and  rowdyism. 

Shindy,  ;/.  A  row,  disturbance,  or  rumpus;  as,  to  kick  up  a 
shindy. 

Shine,  >i.  A  fancy;  liking:  as,  to  have  a  shine  for  a  person. 
"  I've  got  no  shine  for  him."  (2)  A  trick,  a  prank:  to  cut 
up  shines.  (3)  To  take  the  shine  out  of\  to  cast  into  the 
shade;  outshine;  eclipse. 

Shingle,  ;/.  A  small  sign-board,  especially  that  of  a  profes- 
sional man:  as,  to  hang  out  one's  shingle. 

Shingle,  v.  To  cut  the  hair  so  that  streaks  of  it  overlap  like 
rows  of  shingles;  hence,  to  cut  the  hair  very  close. 

Shinny,  ;/.     The  game  of  bandy-ball. 

Shipwrack,  ;/.  and  v.     A  form  of  shipwreck. 

Shirk,  v.  To  avoid  or  get  off  from  unfairly  or  meanly;  slink 
away  from:  as,  to  shirk  responsibility. 

Shirt-buttons,  n.  pi.     The  fruit  of  the  mallow. 

Shirting,  n.     A  cotton  cloth  woven  expressly  for  making  shirts. 

Shirtmen,  ;/.  Name  given  by  the  British  to  the  Virginia  mili- 
tia in  the  Revolutionary  war,  because  they  wore  hunting- 
shirts  as  uniform. 

Shirt-tail,;;.  With  nothing  on  but  a  shirt.  "He  had  un- 
dressed and  was  going  about  in  his  shirt-tail." 

Shivers,  ;;.  pi.  Pieces;  atoms;  the  cup  fell  on  the  floor  and 
broke  to  shivers.  (2)  The  feeling  of  shivering;  cold  and 
trembly  with  the  teeth  chattering.      "  I've  got  the  shivers." 

Shivery,  adj.  Inclined  or  disposed  to  shiver.  Causing  shiv- 
ering; chill. 

Shock,  ;/.  A  group  of  sheaves  of  grain  placed  standing  in  a 
field  with  the  stalk-ends  down,  and  so  arranged  to  shed  the 
rain  as  completely  as  possible,  in  order  to  permit  the  grain 


332  Shock— Short. 

to  dry  and  ripen  before  housing.  (2)  A  like  group  of  stalks 
of  corn,  not  made  up  in  sheaves,  but  placed  singly,  coming 
together  at  the  top  in  a  conical  form. 

Shock,  v.  To  heap  together  in  shocks.  To  make  up  into 
shocks:  as,  to  shock  corn.  "I've  got  all  my  corn  shocked 
up. 

Shock-head,  n.  A  head  covered  with  bushy  or  frowzy  hair; 
a  frowzy  head  of  hair. 

Shock-row,  n.  When  wheat  is  sown  on  corn-land  the  corn  is 
cut  off  two  rows  that  are  ploughed  together  making  a  wheat- 
bed,  this  is  sown  first,  then  the  corn  cut  from  the  other  rows 
is  shocked  on  this  shock-row. 

Shodden,  v.     Past  participle  of  shoe. 

Shoe,  ;/.      To  be  in  one 's  shoes  or  boots,  to  be  in  one's  place. 

Shoe-leather,  ;/.  Used  figuratively  for  shoes.  "He  is  as 
great  a  scoundrel  as  ever  trod  shoe-leather." 

Shoemake,  n.     A  form  of  sumach. 

Shoo,  interj.     Begone!     Off!  away!     Used  to  scare  away  fowls 

and  other  animals. 
Shoo,  v.     To  scare  or  drive  away  fowls  or  other  creatures  by 

calling  out  "  shoo." 
Shooks,  n.  pi.     The  number  of  staves  to  make  a  barrel,  dressed 

and  jointed,  put  up  in  a  bundle  for  shipment. 

Shoot,  n.  The  act  of  shooting;  the  discharge  as  of  a  gun:  as, 
"  Let  me  have  a  shoot." 

Shootes,  >i.  />/.     Shoates;  small  hogs. 

Shooting,  n.  A  quick,  glancing  pain,  often  following  the  track 
i  >i  a  nerve:  as,  "  the  slwoting  of  my  corns  is  a  sign  of  rain." 

Shore,  n.     A  prop;  a  support. 

Shore,  v.     To  prop  up  anything. 

Short,  adj.  Curt;  brief;  abrupt;  sharp;  crusty;  petulant;  un- 
civil. (2)  Brittle;  friable;  breaking  or  crumbling  readily: 
as,  pastry  is  made  short  with  butter  or  lard. 


Short-cake— Show.  333 

Short-cake,  n.  Corn  bread  made  "short"  by  putting  grease 
in  it. 

Short-corn,  n.  Small  and  imperfect  ears  of  corn  used  for 
feeding  to  stock. 

Shortening, ;/.  Anything  put  in  flour  to  make  the  cakes  short: 
as,  butter,  or  lard. 

Short-horn,  n.  An  ordinary  person,  one  of  indifferent  quality 
and  not  belonging  to  the  best  sort. 

Shorts,  n.     Coarse  flour. 

Short-sighted,  adj.  Not  able  to  look  far  into  futurity;  of  lim- 
ited intellect;  not  able  to  discern  remoter  consequences  or 
results;  not  gifted  with  foresight. 

Short-winded,  adj.  Unable  to  bear  long-continued,  violent 
exercise,  as  running,  without  difficulty  of  breathing;  out  of 
breath.     (2)  Lacking  in  application  or  purpose. 

Shortly,  adv.  In  time;  we  expect  him  shortly;  that  is,  we  ex- 
pect him  to  come  soon. 

Shortly,  adj.     Quickly;  peevishly:   he  answered  very  shortly. 

Shote,  11.  A  young  hog;  a  half-grown  pig.  (2)  A  trifling 
worthless  fellow:  as,  "a  poor  shote.'" 

Shot-gourd,  ;/.  A  small  gourd  with  a  straight  neck,  used  for 
carrying  shot  in  the  pocket  in  place  of  a  shot-pouch. 

Shotten,/>.  a.  Shot  out  of  its  socket;  dislocated  as  a  bone. 
Shoulder-shotten,  sprained  in  the  shoulder  as  a  horse.  Hip- 
shotten. 

Should,  v.     Always  used  in  a  sense  of  obligation;  compulsion. 

Ought. 
Shoulder,  v.     To  take  on  the  shoulder.      "Can  you  shoulder 

that  bag  of  meal  ? ' ' 

Show,  n.     An  exhibition  of  any  kind;  a  circus,  wild-beast  show, 

or  theatrical. 
Show,  n.     Chance;  opportunity;  appearance.     "  There  is  some 

show  for  rain  this  afternoon." 


334  Showery— Sickle. 

Showery,  adj.  With  many  showers.  ' '  It  has  been  showery  all 
day." 

Showing-off,  ;/.     Ostentatious  display. 

Shr.     Is  usually  pronounced  Sr.     Srimp,  for  shrimp. 

Shreeve,  n.      For  sheriff. 

Shuck,  n.  The  covering-  of  ears  of  corn.  (2)  Not  worth 
shucks,  good  for  nothing. 

Shuck,  v.     To  remove  the  shucks  of  corn  from  the  ears. 

Shuck,  v.  Perfect  tense  of  the  verb  to  shake.  "He  shuck 
down  the  apples." 

Shuck,  interj.     A  call  to  hogs.     Shook. 

Shuck-bottom,  adj.  Having  a  seat  made  of  the  shucks  of 
corn,  as,  a  chair. 

Shucking,  n.  The  act  of  freeing  from  shucks:  as,  "a  corn 
shucking. 

Shuffle,  v.  To  move  in  a  slow,  irregular,  lumbering  fashion; 
drag  clumsily  or  heavily  along  a  surface;  especially,  to  walk 
with  a  slovenly,  dragging  or  scraping  gait.  (2)  A  move- 
ment in  dancing;  a  sort  of  dance. 

Shut,  v.      To  shut  up.     To  conclude;  end;  terminate.     Shet. 

Shute,  n.     Shewte.     A  suit  of  clothes. 

Shy,  adj.  Keeping  away  from  some  person  or  thing  through 
timidity  or  caution;  fearful  of  approaching;  disposed  to 
avoid:  followed  by  of. 

Sich,  adv.     Sech.      Forms  of  such. 

Sich,  adj.  and  pron.     A  variant  of  such. 

Sick,  adj.     Affected  with  or  suffering  from  physical  disorder. 

Sick,  v.  To  seek;  chase;  set  upon.  Used  in  the  imperative 
in  inciting  a  dog  to  chase  or  attack  a  person  or  animal:  as, 
' '  s-s-sick  '  em  Bose  !  ' ' 

Sickle,  >i.  A  "toothed  hook"  for  reaping  as  distinguished 
from  "  reap-hook  "  that  has  to  be  sharpened;  the  difference 


Sickly-  Sifting-tray.  335 

is  always   made  in   old  inventories,  the  two  being  always 
mentioned. 

Sickly,  adj.  Habitually  ailing  or  indisposed;  not  sound  or 
strong  as  regards  health  or  natural  vigour;  liable  to  be  or 
become  sick.      "  She  has  always  been  sickly  from  a  child." 

Side,  7i.     A  scythe.      "  Side •-blade''  scythe-blade. 

Side,  v.  To  flatten  off  a  side  or  sides  of  timber  by  hewing  it 
with  a  broad-axe,  or  by  sawing.  (2)  To  take  the  part  of 
another.  ' '  He  always  sided  with  B. "  "  He  took  sides 
with  A." 

Side-boards,  n.  pi.  Moveable  boards  to  set  up  on  the  sides  of 
carts. 

Side-comb,  n.  A  comb  used  in  a  woman's  head-dress  to  hold 
a  curl  or  lock  of  hair  on  the  side  of  the  head,  usually  in 
front  of  the  ear.     Generally  of  thin  tortoise-shell. 

Sidesman,  ;/.     Assistant  to  a  churchwarden. 

Side-table,  n.  A  table  made  to  stand  near  the  wall,  especially 
in  a  dining-room;  a  smaller  table  than  the  dining-table. 

Sidewalk,  n.  The  paved  way  for  foot-passengers  on  each  side 
of  a  street.  "It  is  necessary  to  keep  the  sideivalk  clear  of 
boxes." 

Side -ways,  adv.  Directed  or  tending  to  one  side.  Towards 
one  side;  in  an  inclining  position. 

Side-wipe,  n.  A  sly  rebuke;  an  insinuation.  "  He  gave  him 
a  side-ivipe."     (2)  A  bastard. 

Siding,  n.     The  act  of  taking  sides. 

Sidle,  v.  To  move  sideways  or  obliquely;  go  aslant  as  while 
looking  in  another  direction.  To  sidle  up,  to  approach  side- 
ways. 

Siege,  ;;.     A  long  time:  as,  "  You  have  been  gone  a  siege." 

Sifter,  n.  A  fine  wire  sieve  for  separating  the  meal  from  the 
meal-husk,  or  bran. 

Sifting-tray,  n.  A  large,  wooden  tray  on  the  edges  of  which 
a  sifter  was  slid  rapidly  for  sifting  meal  or  flour. 


336  Sight— Simple-hearted. 

Sight,  n.  Something  to  be  seen;  a  spectacle.  "  Look  at  that 
bonnet!  aint  she  a  sight?"  "  If  you  do  that  he'll  make 
you  see  sights. ' ' 

Sight, ;/.  A  number  or  quantity  wonderful  to  see  or  contemplate; 
a  great  many  or  a  great  deal:  as,  a  sight  of  people.  "  It 
did  her  a  sight  of  good." 

Sightly,  adj.  Pleasing  to  the  eye;  affording  gratification  to  the 
sense  of  sight. 

Signify,  v.     To   have  import  or  meaning;  be  of  consequence; 

matter. 
Sildum,  adv.     Seldom. 

Sile,  ;/.     A  variant  of  soil. 

Silk,  n.  The  mass  growing  from  the  ears  of  corn;  so  called 
from  the  resemblance  in  the  unripe  state  to  silk  in  fineness 
and  softness. 

Sill,  n.  The  large  wooden  beam  on  which  the  frame  of  a  wooden 
house  is  built.      "Sills  12x14  inches." 

Silly,  adj.  Foolish  as  an  epithet  of  contempt:  characterized 
by  weakness  or  folly;  manifesting  want  of  judgment  or  com- 
mon sense;  stupid  or  unwise.  Imbecile;  mentally  weak  to 
the  verge  of  idiocy. 

Simlin,  n.      Cymblin,  a  small,  eatable  gourd. 

Simmer,  v.  Liquids  kept  while  heating,  just  below  the  boiling 

point. 

Simon,   n.  Salmon.     The   upper  bricks   in   a   kiln,   which   in 

burning  receive  the  least  heat;  so  called  from  their  colour. 

Simper,  v.     To  mince  one's  words. 

Simper,  v.  To  cry;  to  begin  to  cry  as  a  spoilt  child  does. 
"  One  cried  and  the  other  began  to  simper." 

Simple,  adj.  Unlearned;  incapable  of  understanding  a  situa- 
tion of  affairs;  easily  deceived. 

Simple-hearted,  adj.  Having  a  simple-heart;  single-hearted; 
ingenuous. 


Simple-minded — Skeart.  337 

Simple-minded,  adj.  Lacking  intelligence  or  penetration; 
artless. 

Since,  adv.  For  ago,  never  used.  "Sometime  ago;"  but 
never  ''sometime  since." 

Singed-cat,  n.  A  cat  disfigured  with  burnt  fur;  hence,  a  per- 
son of  unprepossessing  appearance — different  from  what  he 
looks. 

Single-tree,  n.  A  bar  of  wood  with  a  hook  in  the  middle,  and 
a  cuff  at  each  end  to  which  traces  may  be  fastened  for  haul- 
ing. 

Sink,  n.     A  low  place  in  the  ground. 

Sinker,  n.  A  weight  fastened  to  a  fishing-line  to  make  it  sink 
in  the  water. 

Siss,  v.     To  hiss. 

Sissing,  ;/.     A  hissing  sound.      "  The  gander  sissing  at  him." 

Sistren,  n.  pi.     Sisters  of  a  society  or  guild.     Sisters. 

Sithence,  prep.     ¥  ox  since. 

Sive,  n.     For  scythe. 

Sizeable ,  adj.  Well  grown ;  of  appropriate  size.  ' '  She  is  now 
a  good  sizeable  girl. " 

Sized,  adj.  Having  a  particular  size,  extent,  magnitude,  pro- 
portions, etc. :  as,  middle-sized. 

Sizing,  n.  Hanks  of  cotton  are  boiled  in  water  and  meal-husk, 
the  gluten  forming  a  sizing  so  that  the  thread  may  be  wound 
and  otherwise  handled  without  frazzling  or  kinking. 

Sizz,  v.     To  hiss;  sizzle. 

Sizzle,  v.  To  make  a  hissing  or  sputtering  sound;  make  a 
sound  as  of  frying.  (2)  To  be  very  hot,  as  if  hissing  or 
shrivelling. 

Skearce,  adj.     For  scarce. 

Skeart,  n.  Form  of  skirt.  Saddle-skeart;  coat-skeart;  skeart 
of  woods. 

22 


338  Skeart— Skin. 

Skeart,  v.     A  form  of  scared.      Past  part,  of  scare. 

Skeer,  v.  and  n.     A  form  of  scare. 

Skeery,  adj.  A  form  of  scary,  shying,  easily  scared.  "The 
horses  were  very  skeery." 

Skeet,  v.     To  skate. 

Skeeter,  >i.     A  mosquito. 

Skein,  n.  Thread  of  silk,  wool,  cotton,  or  flax  wound  around 
and  knotted  that  the  end  may  be  found  for  winding.  (2)  A 
skein=i20  yards.      Hank=7  skeins  of  cotton  or  silk. 

Skeleton,  ;/.  A  very  lean  or  much  emaciated  person;  a  mere 
shadow  of  a  person. 

Skelp,  v.     To  remove  the  skelp,  or  scalp. 

Skene,  ;/.  A  thin  iron  strip  on  the  lower  side  of  the  arm  of  a 
wooden  axletree  to  save  wear. 

Skid,  ;/.  A  log  forming  a  track  for  a  heavy  moving  object;  a 
timber  forming  an  inclined  plane  in  loading  or  unloading 
heavy  articles  from  waggons. 

Skiff,  n.     A  small  boat  moved  with  oars. 

Skillet,  ;/.  Of  brass,  cast  not  beaten,  a  semi-globe  in  form, 
having  three  short,  straight  legs  of  about  three  inches  in 
length  cast  on  its  bottom.  The  handle  is  tapering,  but  flat 
and  quite  straight,  longer  than  that  of  common  saucepans; 
it  is  cast  in  the  same  piece  as  the  vessel,  in  a  line  with  the 
diameter.  The  skillet  is  only  suitable  to  be  used  with  a 
wood  fire  on  the  hearth. 

Skillpot,  ;/.      A  red-bellied  tarrapin. 

Skim,  n.     Thin  layer.      "There  is  a  thin  skim  of  ice  on  the 

pond." 
Skimp,  adj.     Scant    in  quantity  or  extent;   scarcely  sufficient; 

meagre;  spare. 
Skimpy,  adj.     Spare;  scanty;  skimped. 

Skin,  :■.  To  strip  of  valuable  properties  or  possession;  fleece; 
plunder;  rob;    cheat;  swindle. 


Skin  and  bones — Slab-sided  339 

Skin  and  bones,  ;/.     Very  lean. 

Skin-deep,  adj.  Not  penetrating  or  extending  deeper  than  the 
thickness  of  the  skin;  superficial. 

Skin-flint,  n.  One  who  makes  use  of  contemptible  means  to 
get  or  save  money;  a  mean,  niggardly,  or  avaricious  person; 
miser. 

Skinfull,  )i.  As  much  as  one  can  hold,  especially  of  strong 
drink  of  any  kind. 

Skinny,  adj.     Characterized  by  skinniness;  lean. 

Skinny-grievous,  adj.     Thin;  scrawny. 

Skip,  v.  To  pass  over  without  action  or  notice;  disregard;  pass 
by.     (2)  To  skip  over  a  part  in  reading. 

Skipper,  n.     Certain  larvae  in  bacon  and  cheese. 

Skippery,  adj.     Abounding  in  skippers. 

Skitters,  n.  pi.     Diarrhoea. 

Skittish,  adj.  Easily  frightened;  disposed  to  start,  jump,  or 
run,  as  from  fright. 

Sky-high,  adj.     As  high  as  the  sky;  very  high. 

Sky-lark,  v.     To  engage  in  boisterous  fun  or  frolic. 

Sky-parlour,  n.  A  room  next  the  sky,  or  at  the  top  of  the 
building;  hence,  an  attic. 

Slab,  ;/.  A  thick  piece  of  timber;  especially  the  outter  cut  of  a 
tree  or  log  when  sawn  up  into  plank.  Sawn  from  the  tree 
in  squaring  it.  (2)  A  piece  split  with  the  grain  of  pine,  with 
a  frow  for  covering  a  roof  or  the  sides  of  a  rough  house. 

Slab,  v.     To  cover  with  split  slabs. 

Slabber,  ;/.     Moisture  falling  from  the  mouth.     Slobber. 

Slabber,  v.  To  let  saliva  or  other  liquid  fall  from  the  mouth 
carelessly;  drivel.     Slobber. 

Slabberer,  n.     One  who  slabbers. 

Slab-sided,. adj.  Having  flat  sides  like  slabs;  hence,  tall  and 
lank. 


340  Slack  up— Slat. 

Slack  up,  v.  To  stop  rain.  "  I  think  it  is  about  to  slack  up 
raining." 

Slack,  v.  Air-slacked  lime,  lime  which  has  been  converted  into 
a  mixture  of  hydrate  and  carbonate  by  exposure  to  moist 
air.  (2)  To  add  water  to  quick-lime  until  it  is  reduced  to 
powder. 

Slack,  adj.  Dull;  low;  depressed.  "This  is  a  slack  time  of 
the  year."      "  Business  is  slack. " 

Slack-twisted,  adj.     Of  little  physical  force  or  energy. 

Slack-water,  adj.  Just  at  the  time  when  the  tide  neither  ebbs 
nor  flows:  as,  high-watet  slack,  low-water  slack.  Water, 
where  there  is  no  current. 

Slam,  v.  To  close  with  force  and  noise;  shut  with  violence. 
To  throw  violently  and  with  a  loud,  sudden  noise. 

Slank,  adj.     Slim;  slender;  slanky. 

Slant,  n.      An  oblique  direction  or  plane;  a  slope. 

Slap,  adj.     First  rate;  of  the  best;   "slap-up." 

Slap-bang,  adv.  With  a  slap  and  a  bang;  hence,  suddenly;  vio- 
lently; with  a  sudden,  noisy  dash;  headlong;  all  at  once. 

Slap-dash,  adv.  In  a  sudden,  offhand,  abrupt,  random,  or 
headlong  manner;  abruptly;  suddenly;  all  at  once. 

Slap-up,  adv.     Excellent;  first-rate;  fine. 

Slashes,  n.  pi.  A  shallow  pool  of  water  left  after  a  rain.  Wet 
or  swampy  places  overgrown  with  bushes.  (2)  Small  places 
of  standing  water  after  a  heavy  rain,  usually  in  roads.  (3) 
"Fiasche,  '  watyr; '  plasche,  fiasche  where  rayne  watyr  ston- 
dythe.      Fiasche,  a  shallow  pool." 

Slashy,  adj.     Wet  and  muddy. 

Slat,  n.  A  long,  narrow  strip  or  slip  of  wood.  One  of  a  num- 
ber of  strips  forming  the  bottom  boards  of  a  bedstead;  or, 
slats  in  a  window  blind.  The  flat  pieces  of  a  gate.  ' '  I  wish 
you  would  mend  the  slats  in  my  gate." 


Slat-bonnet— Slip-knot.  341 

Slat-bonnet,  n.  A  bonnet  made  of  calico,  long  to  come  over 
the  face,  with  slats  of  pasteboard  to  keep  it  extended. 

Slay,  n.  Sley.  The  reed  of  a  weavers' -loom;  the  slay  having 
teeth  like  a  comb,  through  which  the  threads  of  the  warp 
are  passed.     Slayes.     Slaie. 

Slay-hook, ;/.  Reed-hook;  of  bone,  for  passing  threads  through 
the  slay. 

Slazy,  adj.  Badly  woven.  Of  thin  or  flimsy  substance;  com- 
posed of  poor  or  light  material.  Said  of  woven  stuff. 
Sleazy. 

Sleepers,  n.  pi.     Timbers  that  support  a  floor. 

Sleepish,  adj.     Disposed  to  sleep;  sleepy. 

Sleepyhead,  n.  An  idle,  lazy  person;  one  disposed  to  sleep 
long  and  late.      ' '  What  a  sleepyhead. ' ' 

Slender,  adj.     Meagre;  small;  scant:  as,  slender  means. 

Slep,  v.     Slept.      "  I  step  badly  last  night." 

Slick,  adj.     Smooth;  glossy;  soft. 

Slight,  n.      Intentional  neglect;  disrespect*^. 

Slight,  v.  To  treat  with  disrespect.  "  He  used  to  go  to  see 
her  a  great  deal,  but  I  think  she  slighted  him." 

Slim,  adj.  Meagre;  small:  as,  a  slim  chance.  Slender.  Slim 
built. 

Slip,  n.     A  child's  apron. 

Slip,  n.  A  twig  detached  from  the  main  stock,  especially  for 
planting  or  grafting:  as,  a  potato  -slip. 

Slipe,  n.  A  long,  narrow  strip:  as,  a  slipe  of  woods  between 
the  fence  and  the  road;  a  slipe  of  bark  from  a  tree. 

Slipe,  v.  To  remove  bark  from  trees  in  long  strips  or  slipes. 
(2)  To  slice  off.  "  He  sliped  a  piece  off  his  thumb  with 
his  new  knife." 

Slip-knot,  n.  A  knot  so  tied  that  it  will  come  loose  by  pulling 
on  one  end. 


34.!  Slippers — Slouching. 

Slippers,  >i.  pi.  Thin,  low  shoes  without  heel  fastened  by  two 
ribbons  from  the  sides  crossed  on  the  instep  and  tied  around 
the  ankle;  used  mostly  by  ladies  for  dancing. 

Slippery,  adj.  That  cannot  be  depended  on  or  trusted;  un- 
certain; untrustworthy;  apt  to  play  one  false;  dishonest. 

Slipshod,  adj.  Wearing  shoes  or  slippers  down  at  the  heel  or 
having  no  counters,  so  that  the  soles  trail  after  the  foot. 
(2)  Appearing  like  one  in  slippers;  careless  or  slovenly  in 
appearance,  manners,  action,  and  the  like;  loose;  slovenly; 
shuffling. 

Slip-shoes,  n.  An  old  loose  pair  of  shoes  worn  at  night  after 
taking  off  the  shoes. 

Slit,  n.     A  long  cut  or  tear;  a  narrow  opening. 

Slop,  ;/.      Liquid  carelessly  dropped  or  spilt  about;  a  wet  place. 

Slop,  v.  To  spill  by  causing  to  overflow  the  edge  of  a  contain- 
ing vessel.     Make  a  slop. 

Slop-bowl,  n.  A  vessel  to  receive  the  dregs  from  tea  or  coffee- 
cups  at  table.     Slop-basin. 

Slope,  v.     To  run  away;  elope;  decamp;  disappear  suddenly. 

Sloppy,  adj.  Wet  from  slopping;  covered  with  slops;  muddy. 
"'Sloppy  weather."     (2)  Weak  and  watery,  like  sloppy  tea. 

Slough,  ?/.     The  cast  skin  of  a  snake.     Snake-shed. 

Slops,  n.  pi.     Cooked  food  for  cattle. 

Slop-shop,  ;/.      A  shop  were  slops  or  ready-made  clothes  are 

sold. 
Slosh,  v.     To  go  about  recklessly  or  carelessly  :  as,   to  slosh 

around.      (2)  The  movement  of  a  liquid  quickly  from  one 

side  of  the  vessel  to  the  other. 

Slouch,  ;/.     An  inefficient  or  useless  person  or  thing. 

Slouch-hat,  n.  A  hat  of  soft  material,  with  a  broad  and  flex- 
ible brim. 

Slouching,  p.  a.  Awkward,  heavy,  and  dragging,  as  in  car- 
riage or  gait. 


Slue— Smart.  343 

Slue,  ;/.  A  narrow  channel  or  thoroughfare  in  water  between 
shoals.     Turn  or  new  channel  in  a  river. 

Slue,  v.  To  turn  or  twist  about;  often  followed  by  round.  To 
turn  partly  round. 

Slue-footed,  adj.     With  the  feet  turned  out. 

Slued,  adj.     Slightly  drunk. 

Sluice,  n.  A  slop;  a  large  wet  place.  "What  a  sluice  you 
have  made  on  the  floor." 

Sluice,  v.  To  wet  or  wash  abundantly:  to  sluice  the  floor  with 
water.  (2)  Making  a  sluice,  making  a  slop,  sluicing  with 
water. 

Slunk,  adj.      Produced  before  the  time:  as,  a  slunk  calf. 

Slunk,  n.  A  calf  prematurely  brought  forth:  also,  a  slunk-kit- 
ten.  (2)  A  person,  thin,  weak  and  haggard,  is  said  to  "  look 
like  a  ^ I '/oik -kitten." 

Slunken,  adj.     Lean;  shrivelled;  all  slunk  up. 

Slush,  n.     Wet  mud;  any  wet  dirt. 

Slut,  n.  A  female  dog;  a  bitch.  (2)  A  nasty  woman.  (3) 
Carpets  were  called  "^/-harbours,"  as  they  hid  the  dirt. 

Sly,  adj.      Playfully  artfull;  knowing. 

Smack,  v.     To  give  a  blow  with  the  inside  of  the  hand. 

Smack,  v.  To  make  a  sudden  noise  as  with  a  whip:  to  smack 
a  whip. 

Smack,  adv.  In  a  direct  manner;  straight.  "  He  hit  him  and 
knocked  him  smack  over  the  chair. 

Small,  adj.  "They  have  a  small  family;  "  meaning  a  family 
of  small  children. 

Small-hominy,  n.  Corn  ground  finer  than  for  big  hominy, 
and  boiled  in  water  for  food. 

Smart,  adj.  Brisk;  lively;  witty.  Considerable;  large:  as,  a 
right  smart  way.  (2)  In  good  health;  well;  not  sick.  "I'm 
right  smart." 


344  Smart — Smoke  house. 

Smart,  adj.  Right  smart;  much;  many;  a  great  deal.  "  There 
were  right  smart  people  at  the  church." 

Smarten  up,  v.     To  make  smart;  to  become  brisk. 

Smartweed,  n.     A  hot,  pungent  weed  growing  in  damp  places. 

Smarty,  ;/.     A  would-be  witty  person. 

Smash,  ?i.  Downfall;  catastrophe.  (2)  Condition  or  state  of 
complete  destruction.      "  It  was  broken  all  to  smash." 

Smasher,  n.  Anything  astounding,  extraordinary,  or  very 
large  and  unusual. 

Smear,  v.  To  overspread  thickly,  irregularly,  or  in  blotches 
with  anything  greasy  or  sticky. 

Smeary,  adj.  Tending  to  smear  or  soil;  adhesive.  Showing 
smears;  smeared. 

Smell  a  rat,  v.     To  suspect. 

Smellers,  )i.pl.     A  cat's  whiskers. 

Smicket,  n.     A  very  small  quantity:   as,  a  smicket  of  butter, 

salt,  etc. 
Smirk,  n.     An  affected  smile;  a  soft  look.      "  He  was  all  smirks 

and  smiles ." 

Smirk,  v.  To  smile  affectedly  or  wantonly;  look  affectedly  soft 
or  kind. 

Smite,  v.     A  little  piece.      "  Give  me  a  smite  of  butter." 

Smithers,  ;/.  pi.     Fragments.      "  He  broke  it  all  to  smithers." 

Smoke,  v.  To  suffer  from  hard  treatment;  be  punished.  "  They 
would  have  made  him  smoke." 

Smoke,  n.     Like  smoke,  very  rapidly.      "  He  ran  like  smoke.'''' 

Smoke-dried,  adj.  One  whose  skin  is  dried  and  hardened  by 
sitting  near  the  fire;  people  who  stay  at  home  in  the  chim- 
ney-corner. "Smoke-dried  people  who  sat  in  the  chimney- 
corner.  ' ' 

Smoke  house,  n.  A  building  in  which  meats  are  cured  by 
smoking,  over  a  smouldering  fire  in  the  middle  of  the  floor 


Smooth — Snail's  pace.  345 

made  of  wet  oak  or  hickory  chips,  thus  making  a  ' '  smother, ' ' 
not  a  blaze. 

Smooth,  v.  To  iron  washed  clothes.  (2)  Smoothing-iron  is 
the  implement  used  for  the  purpose. 

Smother,  n.  A  great  smoke.  (2)  A  vapour  or  smoke  made 
by  burning  straw,  wet  chips,  etc.      "A  smother  of  smoke." 

Smotheration,  n.  The  act  of  smothering,  or  the  state  of  being 
smothered;  suffocation. 

Smouch,  n.     A  loud  kiss;  a  smack. 

Smouch,  v.     To  kiss. 

Smoulder,  n.     Smoke. 

Smouldering, pres.  part.  A  dying  fire;  nearly  out,  no  blaze, 
the  dying  coals  and  embers  smoking.  "A  smouldering 
fire." 

Smut,  n.  A  spot  made  with  "sut,"  coal,  or  the  like;  also  the 
fouling  matter  itself.  A  fungus  disease  in  plants,  effecting 
especially  the  cereal  plants.     (2)  Loose  or  obscene  talk. 

Smut,  v.  To  stain  or  mark  with  smut;  blacken  with  coal, 
"  sut,"  or  other  dirty  substance. 

Smutty,  adj.  Soiled  with  smut.  Obscene;  immodest;  impure: 
as,  smutty  language. 

Snack,  n.  A  portion  of  food  that  can  be  eaten  hastily;  a  slight 
hasty  repast;  a  luncheon;  a  bite. 

Snacks,  n.pi.     Partnership;  shares;  halves.      "We  go  snacks." 

Snag,  n.  A  short,  projecting  stump,  stub,  or  branch;  the  stubby 
base  of  a  broken  or  cut-off  branch  or  twig;  a  jagged  branch 
separated  from  the  tree. 

Snag,  v.  To  catch  or  run  against  a  snag.  "  The  horse  snagged 
himself  on  the  end  of  a  fence-rail." 

Snaggle-tooth,;/.      A  tooth  growing  out  irregularly  from  the 

others. 
Snail's  pace,  n.     Going  very  slowly.      "  You  move  at  a  snail ' s 

pace."      Snail's  gait. 


310  Snake-doctor — Snipperty. 

Snake-doctor,  n.     Mosquito  hawk;  dragon-fly. 

Snake-shed,  ;/.  Snakes  hade.  The  shed  left  by  a  snake  when 
he  casts  his  skin.     Looked  on  as  a  remedy,  and  a  charm. 

Snap,  v.  The  falling  of  thccock  of  a  gun  when  the  piece  fails 
to  go  off.  "  My  gun  snapped  so  I  didn't  get  the  deer." 
To  miss  fire. 

Snaphance,  ;/.     Snapcock,  a  flint-lock  gun. 

Snaps,  n.  p.  A  bean  of  which  the  green  pods  are  used  for  food, 
prepared  before  cooking  by  stripping  off  the  fibrous  thread 
at  their  back.     String-beans. 

Snaps,  ;/.     Thin,  round  and  brittle  ginger-cakes. 

Snapper,  n.     Snappin  turtle.     A  shagtail. 

Snapping-turkle,  ;/.     A  large  and  ferocious  turtle. 

Snappish,  adj.  Sharp  in  reply;  apt  to  speak  angrily  or  tartly; 
tart;    crabbed. 

Snarl,  n.     Snarle.      A  knot  in  wood;  tangle  in  thread. 

Snarly,  adj     Knotty  or  twisted,  as  tangled  thread. 

Snatch,  v.  To  sieze  or  take  hastily,  eagerly,  abruptly,  or 
violently. 

Snathe,  n.     The  curved  handle  of  a  scythe. 

Snead,  ;/.     The  long,  bent  handle  of  a  scythe. 

Sneak,  //.  A  mean  contemptible  fellow;  one  who  has  recourse 
to  mean  and  cowardly  methods. 

Sneaky,  adj.     Somewhat  sneaking. 

Sneck,  n.     A  snake. 

Snicker,  >i.     A  half  suppressed  laugh. 

Snicker,  v.     To  laugh  in  a  half  suppressed  or  foolish  manner. 

Snickup,  v.  To  make  a  noise  like  a  cat  about  to  vomit.  Hic- 
cough.    To  sneeze,  as  a  cat. 

Snifter,  ;/.     A  dram;  a  nip. 

Snipperty,  adj.      Insignificant;  ridiculously  small;  fragmentary. 


Sniptious — Snuffers.  347 

Sniptious,  adj.     Smart  and  finical. 

Snob,  n.     A  journeyman  shoemaker. 

Snobscat,  ;/.      A  cobbler;  a  botcher. 

Snooze,  n.     A  short  nap. 

Snooze,  v.     To  slumber;  take  a  short  nap. 

Snorter,  n.  Something  fierce  or  furious,  especially  a  gale; 
something  large  of  its  kind. 

Snot,  n.      Mucus  from  the  nose. 

Snot-rag,  n.     A  handkerchief. 

Snotty-nosed,  adj.     Foul  with  snot;  mean;  dirty. 

Snout,  ;/.     The  nose. 

Snouty,  adj.     Long-nosed. 

Snow,  n.      A  snowfall.      "We  had  a  heavy  snow  last  week." 

Snowball,  n.       A  shrub  bearing   large  white  balls  of  flowers. 
Viburnum  opulus.     (2)  The  flower  itself. 

Snowbird,  ;/.  A  small  bird  seen  in  winter  and  associated  with 
snow. 

Snow-dram,  n.  A  drink  made  of  liquor,  water  and  sugar, 
cooled  with  snow. 

Snowstorm,  //.     A  continued  snow;  as  long  as  it  is  snowing. 

Snubb,  n.  A  check;  a  rebuff;  a  rebuke;  an  intentional  slight. 
(2)  A  nose  turned  up  at  the  tip  and  somewhat  flat  and  broad; 
a  pug-nose. 

Snubby,  adj.     Somewhat  snub;  short  or  flat. 

Snub-nosed,  adj.  Having  a  short  flat  nose  with  the  end  some- 
what turned  up. 

Snuff-dish,  n.  An  oblong  dish  or  tray  on  which  the  snuffers 
were  put,  and  also  emptied  when  they  got  full  of  "candle- 
snuff." 

Snuffers,  ;;.  pi.  An  instrument  for  cropping  the  snuff  of  a 
candle,  usually  furnished  with  a  close  box  to  receive  the 
burnt  snuff  and  retain  the  smoke  and  smell. 


348  Snuffer-tray — So  fashion. 

Snuffer-tray,  n.     An  oblong  dish  on  which  snuffers  were  laid 
after  being  used,  not  to  smut  the  table-cover. 

Snuffles,  n.  pi.     A  cold  affecting  the  nose. 

Snuff-rag,  n.     A  pocket  handkerchief. 

Snug,  adj.     Cozy;  agreeable  owing  to  exclusion  of  disagreeable 

circumstances  and  persons.     (2)  Neat;  trim;  tidy. 
Snuggle,  v.      Lie  close  for  warmth  or  from  affection;  cuddle; 

nestle. 
Soak,  v.     To  drink  intemperately  and  habitually;  booze;  to  be 

continually  under  the  influence  of  liquor.      (2)  To  receive  a 

prolonged  baking;  bake  thoroughly:  said  of  bread. 

Soak,  n.     A  tippler;  a  hard  drinker. 

Soaking,  n.      A  steeping.      A  wetting;  a  drenching. 

Soap-lock,  n.  A  lock  of  hair  worn  on  the  temple  and  kept 
smoothly  in  place  by  being  soaped. 

Soap-stick,  n.  A  long  paddle-shaped  stick  used  for  stirring 
the  soap  in  country  soap-making  where  the  ingredients  were 
boiled  together  in  a  large  forty  gallon  iron  pot. 

Sob,  v.     To  sop;  soak  with  a  liquid. 

Sobby,  adj.     Sobbed;  soaked  with  a  liquid.     Sobbing-wet. 
Sober-sided,  adj.       Sedate;  serious.      "He   is   a   very   sober- 
sided  man." 
Sober-sides,  n.     A  sedate  or  serious  person. 

Sock,  )i.     A  blow.      He  gave  him  a  sock  in  the  ribs. 

Sock,  v.     To  strike  a  hard  blow;  give  a  drubbing:  as,  sock  it  to 

him. 
Sockdologer,  ;/.      A   conclusive  argument;    a  settler.     (2)    A 

knock-down  or  decisive  blow.      (3)  Something  very  big;  a 

whopper. 
Sodden,/),  a.     Of  bread  not  well  baked;  doughy. 

Sodder,  n.     A  fusible  alloy  for  joining  metals. 
So   fashion,  ad;:     So;    in  that  way;    in  this   manner.       'You 
ought  not  to  put  on  your  hat  that  way,  but  so  fashion." 


Soft— Sop.  349 

Soft,  adj.     Silly;  half-witted. 

Soft-crab,  ;/.  The  common  eatable  crab  when  it  has  shed  its 
hard  shell. 

Soft-soap,  ;/.     Smooth  words;  flattery;  persuasion. 

Soggy,  adj.  Soaked  with  water  or  moisture;  thoroughly  wet; 
damp  and  heavy:  as,  soggy  land;  soggy  timber;  soggy 
bread. 

Sokened,  v.  For  soaked.  "  Nor  shall  put  any  Hides  or  skins 
into  any  Tan-Fats,  before  the  Lime  be  well  and  perfectly 
sokened  and  wrought  out  of  them." 

Somebody,  n.  A  person  of  consideration,  consequence,  or 
importance.      "  She  thinks  she's  somebody." 

Somehow,  adv.  In  some  way  not  yet  known,  mentioned,  or 
explained.      "I'll  try  to  do  it  somehow.'" 

Som'ers,  adv.  Somewheres,  somewhere.  "He  has  gone  out 
som'ers. ' ' 

Something,  ;/.  A  spirit  or  ghost.  "  I  saw  something  in  the 
church-yard  last  night."  "Something  came  out  of  the 
bushes  and  followed  him  half  a  mile." 

Sonny,  n.     A  familiar  form  of  address  in  speaking  to  a  boy. 

Sook,  n.  A  call  for  hogs,  used  when  they  are  called  to  their 
food. 

Sooky,  n.     Name  given  to  a  female  hog. 

Soon,  adv.     Early;  before  the  time  specified  is  much  advanced; 
when  the  time,  event,  or  the  like  has  but  just  arrived:  as, 
'    soon  in  the  morning.      "It  is  soon  yet." 

Soo  wench,  interj.     To  make  a  cow  stand  still. 

Sooy,  interj.     Word  used  to  drive  away  hogs. 

Sop,  v.  Bread  dipped  in  liquid  before  eaten;  the  liquid  in 
which  the  bread  is  dipped. 

Sop,  n.  The  gravy  of  meat  in  which  bread  is  sopped  or  moist- 
ened. 


350  Sop — Souse. 

Sop,  v.     To  dip  or  soak  in  liquid. 

Sora,  n.     A  bird  found  in  numbers  in  the  marshes  in  the  fail. 

Sorehead,  n.  An  irritable,  discontented  person;  one  who  has 
a  real  or  fancied  grievance. 

Sorrel,  ;/.     The  light  chestnut  colour  of  horses. 

Sorry,  adj.  Vile;  wretched;  worthless;  mean:  as,  a  sorry  horse. 
Of  a  poor  quality.      "As  the  corn  crop  is  sorry  this  year." 

Sort,  n.  Characteristic  mode  of  being;  nature;  quality;  char- 
acter. (2)  Out  of  sorts,  out  of  health  or  spirits;  out  of  the 
normal  condition  of  the  mind  or  body;  cross. 

Sort,  v.  To  separate  into  sorts;  arrange  according  to  kind; 
classify. 

Sorter,  n.     A  spelling  of  sort  d ,  for  sort  of. 

So-so,  adj.  Neither  very  good  nor  very  bad,  but  generally  in- 
clining towards  bad;  indifferent;  middling;  passable. 

Sot,  v.      Perfect  tense  and  past  participle  of  set  and  sat. 

Soul,  n.  The  shrivelled  lungs  of  a  dead  duck,  or  chicken,  or 
any  fowl. 

Soul-case,  ;/.     The  body.    "  You  wear  out  my  very  soul-case.'" 

Sound,  n.  The  swimming-bladder  of  a  fish.  That  of  the  sea- 
trout  when  dried  is  used  for  clearing  coffee. 

Sound,  adj.  "Soimd  asleep;"  to  be  in  a  deep  sleep.  "He 
has  been  sound  asleep  for  three  hours." 

Souple,  adj.     Soople.      Pliant;  flexible;  easibly  bent. 

Souple-jack,  n.  A  strong,  pliant  cane:  applied  to  persons:  as 
limber  as  a  souple-jack. 

Sour,  adj.  Harsh  of  temper;  crabbed;  peevish;  morose.  "  He 
has  always  been  sour. 

Souse,  v.  To  plunge  into  water  or  other  liquid;  cover  or  drench 
with  liquid. 

Souse,  >/.  A  pouncing  down;  a  swift  or  precipitate  descent, 
especially  for  attack.     A  dip  or  plunge  into  the  water. 


Souse — Sparrer.  351 

Souse,  n.  Something-  kept  or  steeped  in  pickle;  especially,  the 
head,  ears,  and  feet  of  swine  pickled. 

Souse-meat,  n.  Meat  used  for  sousing;  the  feet,  ears,  and 
noses,  of  hogs. 

Sow,  «.     A  woodlouse;  a  sow-hug. 

Sow-cat,  n.     A  female  cat. 

Span,  n.  The  extent  between  the  tips  of  the  thumb  and  little 
finger  when  outstretched.  A  measure  used  by  boys  when 
playing  marbles. 

So-wench,  interj.  Word  to  make  a  cow  stand  still  when 
milking. 

Spancel,  v.  To  fasten  with  a  spancel  the  legs  of  a  horse  or  cow 
to  keep  the  animal  from  kicking. 

Spang,  v.  To  throw  with  violence:  as,  "  He  spanged down  the 
money." 

Spank,  n.     To  beat  with  the  open  hand. 

Spanker,  n.  Something  striking,  from  its  unusual  size  or  some 
other  peculiarity;  a  whopper. 

Spanking,^,  a.  Strikingly  large,  or  surprizing  in  any  way; 
going  beyond  expectation;  whopping. 

Span-new,  adj.     Quite  new;  brand-new;  fire-new. 

Spare,  adj.  Thin  in  habit  of  body.  "  He  is  a  spare  man." 
"  Tall  and  spare  in  the  waist." 

Sparerib,  n.  A  cut  of  pork  consisting  of  the  ribs  out  of  the 
shoulder,  with  the  meat  adhering  to  them. 

Sparing,/*,  a.  Inclined  to  spare  or  save;  chary;  economical; 
frugal;  grudging. 

Spark,  n.     A  lover;  a  gallant;  a  beau. 

Spark,  v.  To  pay  attention  to,  especially  with  a  view  to  mar- 
riage; court;  pay  the  gallant  to. 

Sparrables,  n.  pi.     Sparrowbills.     Small  iron  nails  for  shoes. 

Sparrer,  n.     For  sparrow.     Sporrer. 


352  Sparrer-grass — Spending-money. 

Sparrer-grass,  n.     Asparagus. 

Spat,  n.     A  petty  contest;  a  little  quarrel  or  dissension. 

Spat,  n.     The  spawn  of  the  oyster. 

Spatt,  n.     For  spot.      "A  spa  ft  of  blood." 

Spatter,  v.  To  scatter  or  throw  about  carelessly,  as  some  fluid 
or  semifluid  substance;  dash  or  splash  so  as  to  fall  in  spread- 
ing drops  or  small  quantities. 

Spatterdashes,  n.  pi.     Leggings. 

Spay,  v.     To  castrate  a  female  by  removing  the  ovaries — pride. 

Spayed-sow,  n.  A  sow  having  the  ovaries  removed;  and  used 
to  be  fattened  for  food. 

Speak,  v.  To  admonish  or  rebuke:  as,  "Will  you  speak  to 
Bob." 

Speck,  n.  A  very  small  superficial  spot  or  stain;  a  small  dot, 
blot,  blotch,  or  patch  appearing  on  or  adhering  to  a  surface: 
as,  a  fiy-speck;  a  speck  of  dirt. 

Specked,  adj.  Used  of  decay  in  its  earlier  stages.  "All  the 
apples  are  specked  this  year,  they  are  not  good." 

Speckle,  n.     A  little  speck  or  spot;  a  speckled  marking. 

Specky,  adj.       Having  specks   or  spots;    slightly  or   partially 

spotted. 
Specks,  n.  pi.     Spectacles. 
Spedacles,  n.  pi.     Spectacles. 

Spell,  n.  A  turn  of  work  or  duty  in  place  of  another;  an  inter- 
val of  relief  by  another  person.  An  interval  of  rest  or 
relaxation;  a  turn  or  period  of  relief  from  work;  a  resting 
lime.  (2)  An  interval  of  time  within  definite  limits:  as,  a 
severe  spell  of  cold  weather.  (3)  A  long  time.  "You've 
been  a  spell  about  it."  (4)  A  bad  turn;  an  uncomfortable 
time;  a  period  of  personal  ailment  or  ill-feeling. 

Spell,  v.     To  relieve  by  taking  a  turn  at  a  piece  of  work. 

Spending-money,  n.  Small  sums  of  money  given  by  parents 
or  others  to  children  to  be  spent  as  they  choose. 


Spences — Spinner.  353 

Spences,  n.  pi.     Expenses. 

Spent,  v.  Worn  out;  tired.  "I  am  nearly  spent  with  walk- 
ing." 

Sperit,  n.     A  spirit;  a  ghost. 

Sperits,  n.  For  spirits;  used  for  any  kind  of  spiritous  liquors; 
ardent  sperits. 

Spew,  v.     To  discharge  the  contents  of  the  stomach;  vomit; 

puke. 
Spick-and-span,  adj.     New  and  fresh;  span-new;  brand-new. 

Spicket,  n.     The  inner  plug  of  a  wooden  tap. 

Spicy,  adj.     Keen;  pointed;  racy. 

Spider,  n.  A  cooking  utensil  with  a  long  handle,  having  three 
or  four  legs  or  feet  to  keep  it  from  contact  with  the  coals; 
made  of  cast-iron,  with  a  top  of  the  same  metal. 

Spike,  v.  To  add  wine  or  spirits  to  lemonade,  coffee  or  other 
drinks.  "Lemonade  spiked  with  claret;"  "coffee  spiked 
with  brandy. ' ' 

Spike-nails,  n.  pi.     Large,  long  nails. 

Spile,  n.     A  peg  at  the  end  of  a  cask  of  liquor.     On  the  top  it 

is  the  vent-peg. 
Spile,  v.     A  form  of  spoil.     Spilt  for  spoilt. 
Spill,  n.     A  throw  or  fall,  as  from  a  saddle  or  vehicle. 
Spilt,  v.     A  form  of  spoilt. 
Spin,  v.      To  spin  a  yam,  to  tell  a  long  story. 
Spindling,  adj.     Long  and  slender;  disproportionately  slim  or 

spindle-like. 
Spindly,  adj.     Spindle-like ;  disproportionately  long  and  slender 

or  slim. 
Spine  of  the  back,  n.     The  spine,  not  mentioned  alone. 

Spinner,  n.     A  spider. 

23 


354  Spinning-stick— Split-broom. 

Spinning-stick,  n.     A  stick  seven  or  eight  inches  long,  turned 

with  a  knob  at  each  end,  held  in  the  right-hand  and  used 

for  turning  the  old  hand-spinning-wheel. 
Spinning-weeel,  n.     A  machine  for  spinning  wool,  or  cotton, 

into  threads  by  hand. 
Spirit,  n.     A  strong  alcoholic  liquor;   used  as  a  beveridge  or 

medicinally,  as  brandy,  gin,  and  whiskey. 

Spit,  n.  A  small,  low  point  of  land  running  into  the  sea,  or  a 
long,  narrow  shoal  extending  from  the  shore  into  the  sea. 
' '  York  Spit;  "  "  Willoughby' s  Spit. ' '     Sand  Spit. 

Spit,  ;/.     Very  light  rain;  or  the  warning  drops  of  a  shower. 

Spit,  v.     To  fall  in  scattered  drops,  as  rain;  to  rain  slightly. 

Spit,;/.  Image;  likeness:  as,  "He  is  the  very  spit  of  his 
father." 

Spit-cotton,  v.  When  one  is  very  thirsty  and  his  mouth  dry 
the  spittle  white  and  sticky  he  is  said  to  "  spit-cottony 

Spit- fire,  n.  An  irascible  or  passionate  person;  one  whose 
temper  is  hot  and  fiery. 

Splatter,  v.     To  bespatter.      "  He  is  splattered  with  mud." 

Splay-foot,  ;/.      A  broad  flat  foot  turned  more  or  less  outward. 

Spleen,  n.  The  spleen,  ague-cake,  enlargement  of  the  organ 
under  malarial  poisoning. 

Splendid,  adj.  Very  fine;  excellent;  extremely  good.  A 
splendid  chance  to  do  well. 

Splice,  v.     To  join  in  marriage;  to  marry. 

Split,  v.  To  run  or  walk  with  long  strides.  "  Go  as  hard  as 
you  can  split. 

Split,  n.  A  thin  strip  of  green  white-oak  used  in  basket  mak- 
ing; also  used  for  hanging  up  meat  to  be  smoked. 

Split-bottom,  adj.      A  chair  with  seat  made  of  white-oak  splits. 

Split-broom,  //.  A  broom  made  of  young  white  oak  by  split- 
ting thin  pieces  back  several  inches  from  the  point  until  all 


Splitting — Sponge.  355 

the  stick  is  split,  then  splitting  from  several  inches  above 
this  leaving  a  stick  big  enough  for  a  handle,  the  whole  tied 
together  and  trimmed  even.     White-oak  broom. 

Splitting,  adj.  Very  severe,  or  in  some  way  extreme,  as  if  it 
were  likely  to  cause  something  to  split:  as,  a  splitting  head- 
ache.    Very  rapid. 

Splits,  n.  pi.  Thin,  narrow  strips,  of  young  white  oak  used  to 
form  loops  by  which  meat  was  hung  on  sticks  to  be  smoked. 

Splot,  n.      A  splotch;  a  spot. 

Splotch,  n.     Abroad  ill-defined  spot;  a  stain;  a  daub;  a  smear. 

Splotched,  adj.  Having  pimples  on  the  skin.  "  His  face  is 
all  splotched." 

Splotchy,  adj.     Marked  with  splotches  or  daubs. 

Splurge,  n.  A  blustering,  noisy,  or  ostentatious,  display,  or 
effort. 

Splurge,  v.  To  make  an  ostentatious  demonstration  or  dis- 
play. 

Splutter,  n.     Bustle;  stir;  commotion. 

Spoake  wheeles,  n.  pi.  "Carte  with  spoake  wheeles."  In 
an  inventory  to  distinguish  from  other  carts  made  with  solid 
wheels. 

Spoil,  v.  To  injure,  vitiate,  or  impair  in  any  way;  especially, 
as  applied  to  persons;  to  vitiate  or  impair  in  character  or 
in  disposition;  render  less  filial,  obedient,  affectionate,  man- 
nerly, modest,  contented,  or  the  like:    as,  to  spoil  a  child. 

Spoken,  p.  a.  Speaking;  in  composition:  as,  a  civil  spoken 
man. 

Spondulics,  ;/.     Money. 

Sponge,  n.  A  parasitical  dependent;  a  hanger-on  for  mainte- 
nance; a  sponge. 

Sponge,  v.  To  live  meanly  at  the  expense  of  others;  to  obtain 
money  or  other  aid  in  a  mean  way. 


356  Spool— Spreet. 

Spool,  n.  A  small  cylinder  of  wood  or  metal,  with  a  project- 
ing disc  at  each  end,  on  which  cotton  thread  is  wound. 

Spool-cotton,  n.     Cotton  thread  wound  on  spools. 

Spoony,  adj.     Weakly  or  foolishly  fond ;  sentimental. 

Sport,  v.  To  make  sport  of,  to  laugh  at;  mock  at;  deride,  hi 
sport,  in  jest;  in  play;  jesting. 

Spot,  n.      Piece.      "  What  a  spot  of  work!  " 

Spot,  v.  To  note  or  recognize  by  some  peculiarity;  catch  with 
the  eye;  detect;  come  upon;  find  out. 

Spots  on  the  nails.  Thumb  =  a  broad;  forefinger  =  a  cross; 
middle  finger  =  a  loss;  third  finger  =  a  present;  little  fin- 
ger =  a  sweetheart. 

Spraddle,  v.  To  walk  with  the  legs  wide  apart,  and  with  a 
wabbling  motion.      To  stretch  the  legs  far  apart. 

Spraddles,  n.  pi.  A  disease  incident  to  young  ducks.  They 
are  said  to  have  the  ' '  spraddles ' '  when  they  have  not 
strength  to  stand  on  their  legs,  but  walk  with  them  very  far 
apart.     Straddles. 

Sprag,  n.     A  small  nail  without  a  head.     Sprig. 

Sprat,  n.  A  small  person;  in  contempt.  "What  sprats  are 
these?" 

Sprawl,  v.  To  spread  out  in  an  ungracefull  posture;  be 
stretched  out  carelessly  and  awkwardly.  "  He  fell  sprawl- 
i)ig  in  the  street." 

Spread,  n.      A  cloth  used  for  a  covering,  as  of  a  table  or  bed. 

Spread,  v.  It  was  an  early  custom  to  spread  butter  on  bread 
with  the  thumb.      General  Knyphausen  did  it. 

Spree,  71.  A  bout  or  season  of  drinking  to  intoxication;  a  fit 
of  drunkenness. 

Spreet,  n.  A  sprit,  a  small  pole,  spar,  or  boom  which  crosses 
a  sail  diagonally  from  the  mast  to  the  upper  aftmost  corner, 
which  it  is  used  to  stretch  and  hoist. 


Sprig— Spunk.  357 

Sprig,  n.     A  brad;  a  small,  sharp  nail  having  no  head. 

Sprig,  n.  A  sprout;  a  shoot;  a  small  bunch;  as  of  a  tree  or 
plant.      (  2)  A  young  person. 

Sprightly,  adj.  Full  of  spirit  or  vigour;  brisk;  lively;  ani- 
mated; spirited;  gay. 

Spring,  v.  To  warp  or  become  warped;  bend  or  wind  from  a 
straight  line  or  surface,  as  a  piece  of  timber  or  plank  in  seas- 
oning.    To  shift  out  of  place;  relax;  loosen. 

Spring,  n.     The  spring  of  the  year. 

Spring-fever,  n.  The  listless  feeling  caused  by  the  sudden  in- 
crease of  heat  in  the  spring;  laziness. 

Spring-house,  n.  A  small  house,  generally  of  stone  or  brick, 
built  over  a  spring  or  brook,  where  milk,  fresh  meat,  etc., 
is  put,  in  order  to  be  kept  cool  in  or  near  the  running  water. 

Spring-keeper,  n.  A  water  newt  living  in  a  spring  and  thought 
to  keep  the  water  flowing  and  good.     A  water-puppy . 

Spring-run,  //.  The  small  stream  of  water  the  outlet  of  a 
spring. 

Spring-water,  n.  Water  issuing  from  a  spring;  in  contradic- 
tion to  river-water,  rain-water,  etc. 

Sprinkle,  n.     A  sprinkling,  or  falling  in  drops.     Specifically,  a 

light  rain. 
Sprinkling,  n.     A  small  amount  scattered  here  and  there,  as  if 

by  sprinkling:  as,  a  sprinkling  of  our  people. 

Sprout,  v.     To  remove  sprouts  from:  as,  to  sproxit  potatoes. 

Sprout,  ;/.      The  shoot  of  a  plant.     Sprouts. 

Spruce,  adj.     Smart  in  dress  and  appearance;  trim. 

Spruce,  v.  To  become  spruce;  assume  or  affect  a  smartness  in 
dress.     Often  followed  by  up. 

Sprung,  v.      Past  tense  and  past  part.     Tipsy;  drunk. 

Spry,  adj.     Active;  nimble;  vigourous;  lively. 

Spunk,?/.  Mettle;  spirit;  pluck;  obstinate  resistance  to  yield- 
ing. 


358  Spunky— Squat. 

Spunky,  adj.  Spirited;  unwilling  to  give  up,  or  to  acknowledge 
one's  self  beaten. 

Spun-out,  adj.     Lengthened;  unduly  protracted. 

Spurt,  n.     A  brief  and  sudden  outbreak. 

Sputter,  n.      Bustle;  ado;  excited  talk;  squabble. 

Squab,  ;/.  Unfledged,  newly  hatched,  or  not  yet  having  at- 
tained the  full  growth,  as  a  pigeon. 

Squabble,  u.     A  wrangle;  a  dispute;  a  broil;  a  noisy  quarrel. 

Squabby,  adj.     Thick;  squat;  short;  fat. 

Squab-pie,  n.     A  pie  made  of  squabs;  a  pigeon-pie. 

Squall,  n.  A  sudden  shower  of  rain,  or  snow,  not  necessary 
accompanied  by  wind. 

Squally,  adj.  Threatening;  ominous:  as,  things  began  to  look 
squally. 

Squander,  v.  To  spend  lavishly,  profusely  or  prodigally;  dis- 
sipate; use  without  economy  or  judgement;  lavish:  as  to 
squander  one's  estate. 

Squander,  v.  To  scatter;  disperse;  go  at  random.  "His 
family  are  squandered  about  the  country." 

Square  off,  v.  To  take  the  attitude  of  a  boxer;  prepare  to 
spar.      "  They  squared  off  and  I  thought  they  would  fight." 

Square-shouldered,  adj.  Having  high  and  broad  shoulders, 
not  sloping  and  well  braced  back,  so  as  to  be  straight  across 
the  back. 

Square-toed,  adj.     Formal;  precise;  prim. 

Square  up,  v.     To  settle  accounts. 

Squash,  v.  To  crush,  smash;  beat  or  press  into  pulp  or  a  flat 
mass.      To  splash;   make  a  splashing  noise. 

Squashy,  adj.     Soft  and  wet;    miry;    muddy;    pulpy:  mushy; 

watery. 
Squat,  v.     To  sit  close  to  the  ground;  crouch;  sit  down  upon 

the  buttocks   with   the   knees  drawn    up   or   with   the  legs 

crossed. 


Squat— Srink.  359 

Squat,  adj.       Short  and    thick,  like  the   figure  oi"   an  animal 
squatting. 

Squatty,  adj.     Squat;  short  and  thick;  dumpy;  low-set. 

Squawk,  n.     A  loud,  harsh  squall. 

Squawk,  v.     To  cry  with  a  loud,  harsh  voice;  make  a  loud  out- 
cry, as  a  duck  or  other  fowl  when  frightened. 

Squeaky,  adj.     Squeaking;  inclined  to  squeak. 

Squeamish,  adj.     Qualmish;  slightly  nauseated;  sickish. 

Squeamishness,  n.       Excessive  nicety  or  daintiness;    fastid- 
iousness; excessive  scrupulousness. 

Squelch,  v.     To  disconcert;  discomfit;  put  down. 

Squench,  v.     To  quench. 

Squez,  v.     Past  tense;  squeezed. 

Squiggle,  v.     To  move  about  like  an  eel;  squirm;  wriggle. 

Squinch,  ;/.     A  variant  of  quince. 

Squinch,  v.     To  quench;  to  put  out,  as  water  does  fire;  there 
are  some  verses  about  water  "  squinching  "  fire. 

Squinched-up,  v.     To  have  a  squinched-up  look,  to  be  thin 
and  shrivelled;  a  lean  and  shrunken  look. 

Squint-eyed,  adj.     The  eyelids  partly  closed;  eyes  directed  to 
one  side. 

Squirrel-load,    v.     A  small  drink  of  liquor,  not  a  buck-load. 

Squirt,  n.     A  small,  insignificant,  but  self-assertive  fellow. 

Squirt,  n.     A  syringe. 

Squirts,  n.     Diarrhoea. 

Squitch-owl,  n.     A  small  owl. 

Squoze,  v.      Past  tense,  squeezed. 

Sqush,  v.     To  crush.     Mash.     Squush. 

Squtters,  n.     Diarrhoea. 

Srinips,  n.  pi.     Shrimps. 

Srink,  v.     For  shrink. 


360  Ssh,  ssh — Stamping-ground. 

Ssh,  ssh,  exclam.     To  drive  away  fowls.     Shoo. 

Stack,  n.     A  pile  of  grain  in  the  sheaf,  or  of  hay,  straw,  etc., 
gathered  into  a  circular  or  rectangular  form,  often,  when  of 
large  size,  coming  to  a  point  or  ridge  at  the  top.     A  fodder- 
stack.     Wheat-stack. 

Stack-yard,  n.     A  yard  or   encloseure  for   stacks  of  hay  or 
grain. 

Stag,  n.     A  bull  castrated  when  half-grown  or  full-grown. 

Stag- dance,  n.     A  dance  performed  by  men  only. 

Staggerer,  n.     A  statement  or  argument  that  staggers;  a  poser, 
whatever  causes  one  to  stagger,  falter,  hesitate,  or  doubt. 

Staging,  n.     A  temporary  structure  of  posts  and  boards  for 
support,  as  in  a  building;  scaffolding. 

Stag-party,  n.     A  party  or  entertainment  to  which  men  only 
are  invited. 

Stars,  n.     Stairs.      "  He  went  up  stars  to  bed." 

Stake,  n.     A  stick  of  wood  sharpened  at  one  end  and  set  in 
the  ground. 

Stake   and   rider,  ?t.     A  fence  made  higher  by  another  rail 
being  put  on  the  locks. 

Stale,  adj.     Wanting  freshness. 

Stalk,  n.     The  stem  or  main  axis  of  a  plant:  as,  a  stalk  of  corn. 

Stalk,  v.     To  walk  with  slow,  deliberate  steps:  as,  to  go  stalk- 
ing about. 

Stall,  v.     To  stick  fast  in  the  mud:  as,  to  stall  a.  waggon.     (2) 
To  satiate.      "  I  can't  eat  any  more,  I'm  stalled  now." 

Stall-beef,  >i.      Beef  fed  and  fattened  in  a  stall. 

Stall-fed,  v.     To  feed  and  fatten  in  a  stall  or  stable,  or  on  dry 
fodder. 

Stamping-ground,  11.     A  place  of  habitual  resort;  a  custom- 
ary haunt. 


Stand— State  House.  361 

Stand,  n.  A  standing  growth.  We've  a  good  stand  of  corn 
this  year." 

Stand,  n.     A  tub,  vat,  or  cask:  as,  a  lye-stand. 

Stand,  v.  To  "stand  in  a  store,"  is  to  be  employed  as  an 
assistant  in  a  store.      ' '  He  stands  in  a  drygood  store. ' ' 

Stand-by,  n.  One  who  or  that  which  stands  by  one.  A  sup- 
porter or  adherent.  That  on  which  one  relies;  especially, 
a  ready,  timely  resource.  The  "  old  standby s,"  are  the  old, 
trustworthy  people  of  the  neighborhood. 

Stand-off,  n.     A  holding  or  keeping  off;  a  counteraction. 

Stand-still,  n.  A  halt;  a  pause;  a  stop,  especially  in  conse- 
quence of  obstruction. 

Staple,  n.  A  loop  of  metal,  or  a  bar  or  wire  bent  and  formed 
with  two  points,  to  be  driven  into  wood  to  hold  a  hook,  pin 
or  bolt. 

Starchy,  adj.     Stiff;  precise;  formal  in  manner. 

Starn,  n.     A  form  of  stern. 

Stars  and  garters.     An  exclamation. 

Start,  n.     Beginning.      "  He  didn't  know  at  the  start  what  he 

would  do." 
Start,  n.     A  sudden  involuntary  spring,  jerk,  or  twitch,  such  as 

may  be   caused    by  sudden    surprise,   fear,   pain,   or   other 

emotion. 
Start,  v.      To  start  in,  to  begin.     (2)  To  originate;  begin;  set 

in  motion;  set  going;  give  the  first  or  a  new  impulse:  as,  to 

start  a  fire.      "  They  will  start  to  school  on  Monday." 

Start-naked,  n.  Entirely  naked;  .y/rtrZ-body-naked;  start- 
mother -naked. 

Startler,  n.     That  which  startles:  as,  that  was  a  startler. 

Starve,  v.  To  die  or  perish  of  or  with  hnnger;  and  not  in  con- 
sequence of  cold. 

State  House,  n.  In  1639  it  was  ordered  that  2  lbs.  of  tobacco 
per  poll  should  be  raised  to  "  build  a  state  house;  "  "  where 


> 


362  Stave— Steep. 

the  general  assemblies  and  general  courts  for  this  his  maj- 
esty's colony  and  dominion  of  Virginia  were  kept  and  held. ' ' 
In  1699  an  act  was  passed  "  directing  the  building  the  Cap- 
itoll  "  at  the  City  of  Williamsburg.  The  word  Capitol  was 
used  in  1779  for  the  same  public  building  when  the  seat  of 
government  was  moved  to  Richmond;  and  "  capitol'  is 
stilled  used  in  the  same  sense. 

Stave,  v.  To  go  or  rush  along  recklessly  or  regardless  of  every- 
thing, as  one  in  a  rage;  work  energetically;  drive. 

Staver,  n.     An  active,  energetic  person. 

Stay,  v.  To  take  a  small  quantity  of  food,  is  to  stay  your 
stomach  until  the  regular  meal. 

Stay,  v.  To  remain;  especially  to  remain  in  a  place  for  an  in- 
definite time;  abide;  sojourn;  dwell;  reside. 

Stays,  n.  pi.  A  support  worn  about  the  body;  made  in  two 
parts  and  held  together  by  lacing. 

Steady,  adj.  Sober;  industrious;  persevering;  correct  in 
morals. 

Steady-going,  adj.  Of  steady  habits;  consistently  uniform 
and  regular  in  action;  that  steadily  pursues  a  reasonable  and 
consistent  way:  as,  a  steady-going  fellow \ 

Steele-mill,  >/.  Steel-wheel.  A  small  machine,  by  the  turn- 
ing of  a  ratchet,  rapid  movement  is  given  to  a  steel  wheel 
against  the  edge  of  which  a  Hint  was  held,  striking  out 
sparks.  Was  used  with  tinder  for  making  a  fire.  Usually 
valued  at  £1  in  the  inventories. 

Steal-clothes,  n.  A  boys'  game,  the  players  divided  in  two 
puts  and  from  a  line  in  the  middle  of  the  ground  running 
across  to  take  the  "  clothes  " — jackets  or  caps,  and  some  dis- 
tance from  the  base. 

Steep,  adj.     Excessive;  difficult;  forbidding:  as,  a  steep  price. 

Steep,  v.  To  soak  in  warm  water;  to  soak  in  liquid:  as,  to 
steep  herb-. 


Steer— Stiddy.  363 

Steer,  n.  A  young  male  of  the  ox  kind.  Male  beef-cattle  of 
any  age. 

Stent,  n.     Allotted  portion.      "A  stent  of  tobacco." 

Step,  v.     To  walk.      "Step  over  to  the  shop." 

Stern,  ?i.  The  hinder  parts,  backside,  buttocks,  or  rump;  the 
tail  of  an  animal. 

Stew,  ;/.  A  state  of  apprehension  and  alarm.  "  When  I  saw 
him  yesterday  he  was  in  a  great  stew  about  something." 
Worry;  fuss;  agitation. 

Stew,  ;/.  Food  cooked  bv  stewing;  especially,  meat  or  fish 
prepared  by  slow  cooking  in  a  liquid. 

Stew-pan,  n.     A  utensil  in  which  anything  is  stewed. 

Stew-pot,  ;/.     A  pot  with  a  cover  for  making  stews,  soups,  etc. 

Stick,  n.  A  timber  tree.  (2)  A  person  who  is  stiff  and  awk- 
ward in  bearing;  hence,  a  stupid,  incapable,  or  incompetent 
person. 

Stick,  v.  To  impose  upon;  cheat.  (2)  To  stick  out,  to  refuse 
to  comply  or  come  to  terms;  hold  out  or  hold  back. 

Stick,  v.  To  put  sticks  in  the  ground  for  peas  to  run  on.  '  It 
is  time  to  stick  peas,  they  are  high  enough." 

Stick  him.     Words  used  for  urging  on  a  dog. 

Sticker,  n.     One  who  kills  hogs  by  sticking. 

Stick-in-the-mud,  n.  An  old  fogy;  a  slow  or  insignificant 
person. 

Stickler,  n.  An  obstinate  contender  about  anything,  often 
about  a  thing  of  little  consequence. 

Stick-weed,  n.  A  tall,  straight  weed  that  is  hard  and  looks 
like  a  stick  when  it  is  dry. 

Sticky,  adj.  Inclining  to  stick;  adhesive;  viscous;  glutinous- 
humid;  producing  stickiness. 

Stiddy,  adj.'     A  form  of  steady. 


364  Stiff— Stirrup-leather. 

Stiff,  adj.  Strong;  said  of  an  alchoholic  drink,  or  mixed  drink 
of  which  spirits  form  a  part.      Proud. 

Stifling,^,  a.     Close;  oppressive;  suffocating. 

Still,  adv.  Constantly;  continually;  habitually;  always;  ever. 
"  You  go  there  still. ' ' 

Stilt,  n.  Those  used  by  children  are  slender  poles  about  six 
feet  long,  with  steps  or  stirrups  a  foot  or  more  from  one  end, 
the  longer  end  of  the  pole  held  with  one  hand. 

Stilyards,  n.  The  iron  beam  with  a  moveable  pea  and  proper 
hooks  used  for  weighing.     The  pea  also  called  a  "  bob." 

Stilyards,  n.  An  instrument  for  weighing  consisting  of  a  long 
arm  on  which  are  notches  for  the  pounds,  and  counterbal- 
ance called  a  pea. 

Stingaree,  ;/.     A  fish;  a  stingray. 

Stinger,  n.     The  sting  of  an  insect. 

Sting- nettle,  n.  The  stinging  weed,  urtica.  (2)  The  jelly- 
fish ;  also  called  sea-nettle. 

Stingy,  adj.  Meanly  avaricious;  extremely  close-fisted  and 
covetous;  niggardly. 

Stinkabus,  n.     Stink-a-puss.     A  term  of  contempt. 

Stint,  v.  To  limit;  restrain;  restrict;  to  confine  to  a  scanty 
allowance:  as,  to  stint  one's  self  in  food.  (2)  To  prevent 
large  crops  and  low  prices  of  tobacco  the  General  Assembly 
passed  laws  "stinting"  the  planting  as  early  as  1629. 

Stir,  ;/.     Commotion;  excitement;  tumult. 

Stir,  v.  To  rouse  from  sleep;  to  move  in  the  sleep,  as  a  child. 
"  Watch  that  child  to  see  if  he  stirs." 

Stirrer,  n.  One  who  excites  or  instigates;  an  instigator;  a 
stirrer-up. 

Stirrup-iron,  ;/.  The  iron  hanging  to  the  saddle  by  the  stirrup- 
leather. 

Stirrup-leather,  n.  The  leather  that  goes  through  the  stirrup- 
iron  and  hangs  it  to  the  saddle. 


Stirrup-oil — Stomach.  365 

Stirrup-oil,  n.     A  sound  beating;  a  drubbing    with  a  leather 

strap. 
Stitch,  n.     An    acute  sudden  pain  like  that  produced  by  the 

thrust  of  a  needle.      (2)  A  bit  of  cloth;  a  rag:    as,  "He 

hadn't  a  dry  stitch  on." 

Stiver,  n.     Something  of  small  value.      ' '  I  don' t  care  a  stiver. ' ' 
Stob,  n.     A  small  post. 

Stob,  v.      A  form   of  stab.  Strike  with  the  point  of  a  sharp 

weapon. 

Stock,  n.     A  hive  of  bees.  A  swarm  of  bees.      "  13  stocks  of 

Bees  at  15s  p.  stock."  York  Rec. 

Stock,  n.  A  person  who  is  as  dull  and  senseless  as  a  block  or 
log.  (2)  The  cattle,  sheep,  and  other  useful  animals  raised 
or  kept  on  a  farm;  does  not  include  horses  except  in  the 
general  term  ' '  live  stock. ' ' 

Stock,  n.  A  stiff  band  of  horsehair,  leather,  or  the  like,  covered 
with  black  satin,  cambric,  or  similar  material,  and  made  to 
imitate  and  replace  the  cravat  or  neckband.  Formerly  worn 
by  men  generally. 

Stock,  n.     Trunk  of  a  tree.     A  stock  of  timber. 

Stock,  v.     To  stock  a  farm  is  to  put  sufficient  cattle,  sheep  and 

hogs  on  it. 
Stocking-feet,  n.     To  have  on  stockings  and  no  shoes.      In  his 

"stocking-feet" 

Stock-lock,  n.  A  lock  fastened  on  a  door  by  aid  of  nails 
or  screws  only,  distinguished  from  a  padlock,  or  mortice- 
lock.  Some  of  them  made  by  country  blacksmiths  were  of 
great  size,  more  than  a  foot  long,  with  keys  weighing  pounds 
of  solid  iron. 

Stock-still,  adj.     Still  as  a  stock  or  fixed  post;  perfectly  still. 

Stold,  v.     Past  tense  and  past  part,  of  steal. 

Stomach,  n.  Appetite;  desire  or  relish  for  food:  as,  to  have  a 
good  stomach  for  one's  meals.  Relish;  taste;  inclination; 
liking:  as,  to  have  no  stomach  for  a  controversy. 


366  Stomach — Store-keeper. 

Stomach,  v.     To  bear  with.      "  I  cannot  stomach  that." 
Stomacker,  n.     The  front  part  of  the  dress  covering  the  breast 

and  stomach. 
Stomp,  v.      A  form  of  stamp. 
Stompers,  ;/.     Large,  heavy  shoes. 

Stone-bruise,  n.  A  bruise  caused  by  a  stone;  especially,  a 
painfull  and  persistent  bruise  on  the  sole  of  the  foot,  com- 
monly in  the  middle  of  the  ball  of  the  foot,  due  to  walking 
bare-footed. 

Stone-cold,  adj.     Cold  as  a  stone. 

Stone-dead,  adj.     Dead  as  a  stone:  lifeless. 

Stone-deaf,  adj.     Deaf  as  a  stone;  totally  deaf. 

Stone-horse,  n.     A  stallion. 

Sone-jars,  n.  pi.      Large  jars  are  so-called,   though   made   of 

earthenware. 
Stoneware,  n.     Potter's  ware  made  from  clay  of  a  very  sili- 

cious  nature,  or  a  composition  of  clay  and  flint. 

Stonish,  v.     Same  as  astonish. 

Stonishment,  n.     Same  as  astonishment. 

Stool,  n.  The  seat  used  in  easing  the  bowels;  hence,  a  fecal 
evacuation;  a  discharge  from  the  bowels. 

Stoop-shouldered,  adj.  Having  a  habitual  stoop  in  the  shoul- 
ders and  back. 

Stop,  v.  To  make  a  halt  or  stay  of  longer  or  shorter  duration; 
tarry;  remain:  as,  "  I've  been  stopping  in  the  country." 

Stop-gap,  n.  That  which  fills  a  gap,  or  that  which  serves  as 
an  expedient  in  an  emergency. 

Stopper,  n.     Cork  or  other  substance  for  stopping  a  bottle. 

Store,  ;/.  A  place  where  goods  are  kept  for  sale  by  either 
wholesale  or  retail;  a  shop:  as,  a  book-store. 

Store-keeper,  n.  One  who  has  the  eare  or  charge  of  a  store. 
A  shop-keeper. 


Store-tea — Strainer.  367 

Store-tea,  n.  China  tea,  distinguished  from  yarb  tea,  sassa- 
fras-tea, ginger-tea. 

Storm,  v.     To  scold;  to  be  angry.      "  He  stormed  and  swore." 

Storm-breeder,  n.  A  mild  day  before  rain,  cold,  or  bad 
weather. 

Story,  n.  A  falsehood;  a  lie;  a  fib.  Polite  for  liar.  "What 
a  story  you  are. "      "  You  are  a  big  story. 

Story-book,  n.  A  book  containing  one  or  more  stories  or  tales; 
a  printed  collection  of  short  tales. 

Story-teller,  ;/.      One  who  tells  falsehoods;  a  fibber. 

Stout,  adj.     Strong  built  man;  broad  and  strong. 

Stouten,  v.  To  make  stout;  strengthen;  grow  stout.  "He 
has  stoutened  very  much  in  the  last  few  years." 

Stove-pipe,  ;/.      A  stove-pipe  hat,  a  tall  silk  hat. 

Straddle,  v.  To  stand  or  walk  with  the  legs  wide  apart;  sit  or 
stand  astride.  To  place  one  leg  on  one  side  of  and  the 
other  leg  on  the  other  side  of:  as,  to  straddle  a  horse. 

Straddles,  n.  A  disease  of  young  ducks  where  they  lose  the 
power  of  walking  and  their  legs  spread  out  or  straddle  in 
opposite  directions.     Spraddles. 

Straight,  adj.      Unmixed;  undiluted;  neat:  as,  whiskey  straight. 

Straight,  adv.  At  once;  immediately;  directly;  straightway. 
"  Go  straight  to  the  house  and  take  off  your  wet  shoes." 
"  Go  right  straight  and  do  what  I  told  you." 

Straightway,  adv.  Immediately;  forthwith;  without  loss  of 
time;  without  delay.      Straightaway. 

Strain,  v.  To  urge;  to  press:  as,  to  strain  a  horse,  to  make 
him  run  his  best. 

Strain,  v.  To  strain  milk,  to  pass  milk  through  a  strainer  to 
remove  all  foreign  matter. 

Strainer,  n'.  A  utensil  for  separating  small  solid  particles  from 
the  liquid  that  contains  them,  either  to  preserve  the  solid 


368  Straining — Straw. 

objects  or  to  clarify  the  liquid,  or  both:  as,  a  strainer  for 
milk. 

Straining,  n.     A  straining  on  the  bowels  is  dysentery. 

Straiten,  v.  To  press  hard,  as  with  want  or  difficulties  of  any- 
kind;  distress;  afflicted  with  pecuniary  difficulties:  as,  to  be 
straitened  in  money  matters. 

Straight-laced,  adj.  Strict  in  manners  or  morals;  rigid  in 
opinion. 

Strand,  n.  A  number  of  yarns  twisted  together  to  form  one  of 
the  parts  of  which  a  rope  is  twisted.  A  single  thread;  a 
filament;  a  fibre.      One  of  the  threads  of  a  line. 

Strange,  adj.  Foreign;  alien;  of,  or  belonging  to  some  other 
country.  Outlandish;  queer;  odd.  (2)  Shy;  reserved; 
retiring.      "  He  is  a  strange  sort  of  person." 

Stranger,  n.  A  small  knot  on  the  wick  of  a  candle,  which, 
when  burnt  becomes  enlarged  and  red.  It  is  a  sign  that  a 
stranger  will  come  to-morrow.  (2)  A  small  body  floating 
in  tea  or  coffee. 

Stranger,  n.  One  not  belonging  to  the  house;  a  guest;  a  visi- 
tor. (2)  A  person  who  has  not  been  seen  lately  is  said  to 
be  a  "  great  stranger. ' ' 

Strangely,  adv.     In  a  strange  manner. 

Strangth,  u.      For  strength. 

•^    Strap,  v.     To  beat  or  chastise  with  a  strap.     To  be  strapped, 
out  of  money. 
Strapper,  ;/.      Anything  bulky;  large,  tall  person. 

Strapping,/),  a.     Tall;  lusty;  robust.     Stropping. 
Straps,  ;/.     Pieces  of  leather  or  cloth  under  the  feet  to  keep 
the  trowsers  down. 

Stravagant,  adj.      Extravagant;  profuse. 

Straw,  n.  Anything  proverbially  worthless;  the  least  possible 
thing:  as,  not  worth  a  straw.  (2)  In  the  straw,  lying  in,  as 
a  mother  in  childbed. 


Straw-bed— Stringy.  369 

Straw-bed,  n.     A  bed  of  straw  put  under  a  featherbed  to  give 

it  hardness. 
Streak,  v.     To  run  swiftly. 

Streak,  n.      To  go  like  a  streak,  to  go  very  rapidly;  rush. 
Streaky,  adj.    Having  streaks;  marked  with  streaks.    Streaked. 

Stream,  v.  To  move  swiftly  and  continuously,  as  a  ray  of 
light;  streak.  "  They  went  streaming  along,  one  after  the 
other." 

Street,  n.  The  inhabitants  of  a  street  collectively.  "The 
whole  street  will  hate  us." 

Street-door,  n.  The  door  of  a  house  or  other  building  that 
opens  on  a  street. 

Strenth,  n.     A  form  of  strength. 

Stretcher,  n.     A  statement  that  overstretches  the  truth;  a  lie. 

Stretchy,  adj.     Inclined  to  stretch  one's  self;  a  consequence  of 
fatigue   or   sleepiness.       (2)    Capable   of    being   stretched. 
"  That  is  very  stretchy  leather." 

Strike,  n.  A  wooden  implement  with  a  straight  edge  for  level- 
ling a  measure  of  grain,  salt,  etc.,  by  striking  off  what  is 
above  the  level  of  the  top. 

Strike,  v.  When  salt  has  been  applied  to  meat  it  is  said  to 
strike.  "The  meat  is  safe,  the  salt  has  struck."  (2)  To 
take  root  from  a  shoot. 

String,  n.  A  slender  cord;  a  thick  thread;  a  line;  a  twine;  a 
narrow  band,  thong,  or  ribbon;  also,  anything  which  ties. 

String  of  fish,  n.  A  number  of  fish  with  a  string  passed 
through  the  gills  and  out  at  the  mouth  to  be  carried  easier. 

String-halt,  n.  An  involuntary  convulsive  movement  of  the 
muscles  of  either  hind  leg  of  a  horse,  by  which  the  leg  is 
suddenly  and  unduly  raised  from  the  ground,  and  lowered 
again  with  unnatural  force. 

Stringy,  adj.  Consisting  of  strings  or  small  threads.  Ropy; 
viscid;  gluey;  that  may  be  drawn  into  a  thread. 

24 


370  Strip— Stubbly. 

Strip,  >i.  A  narrow  piece,  comparatively  long:  as,  a  strip  of 
cloth. 

Stripling,  u.  A  youth  just  passing  from  boyhood  to  manhood; 
a  lad. 

Striving,  ji.      A  striving,  an  effort;  a  strife. 

Stroak,  n.  Strike.  A  struck  half  bushel  measure.  A  dry 
measure  regularly  of  two  bushels.  Varied  from  two  pecks 
of  corn  to  four  pecks,  and  to  four  bushels. 

Stroll,  n.  A  wandering  along  or  about;  a  leisurely  walk;  saun- 
ter.     ' '  Let's  take  a  stroll. ' ' 

Strong,  adj.  Forcible  offensive  in  quality;  repellant  to  sense 
or  sensation;  ill-tasting  or  ill-smelling;  rank;  rancid;  tainted. 

Strong-waters,  ;/.  pi.      Distilled  spirit  of  any  kind. 

Strop,  n.  and  v.      For  strap,  in  all  its  senses. 

Stroud,  )i.     A  form  of  shroud. 

Strow,  v.     St  rowed,  strown,  strowing.     A  form  of  strew. 

Struck-bushel,  >i.  A  slruck-bushel,  is  where  the  measure  has 
been  struck  even  with  a  strike. 

Strum,  v.  To  play  unskillfully,  or  in  a  vulgar  noisy  manner, 
on  a  stringed  musical  instrument,  as  a  guitar  or  banjo. 

Strut,  n.  A  proud  step  or  walk,  with  the  head  erect;  affected 
dignity  in  walking. 

Strut,  :•.  To  walk  with  a  pompous  gait  and  head  up,  as  from 
pride  or  affected  dignity.  (2)  To  stand  or  walk  stiffly  with 
the  tail  erect  and  spread,  as  the  peacock,  the  turkey,  and 
various  other  birds. 

Stubble,  ;/.  The  lower  ends  of  grain-stalks,  collectively,  left 
standing  in  the  ground  when  the  crop  is  cut. 

Stubblefield, ;/.  A  field  covered  with  stubble;  a  piece  of  ground 
from  which  grain  has  been  cut. 

Stubbly,  adj.  Covered  with  stubble;  stubbled.  Resembling 
stubblr;   short  and  stiff. 


Stubborn— Stuffy.  371 

Stubborn,  adj.  Persistently  obdurate;  obtuse  to  reason  or 
right;  obstinately  perverse. 

Stubborn,  adj.  Stiff;  thick.  "If  you  cut  your  beard  it  will 
grow  very  stubborn.'''' 

Stubby,  adj.  Short;  thick  and  stiff;  stubbed:  as,  stubby  fin- 
gers. 

Stuck-up,  adj.  Offensively  proud  and  conceited;  puffed  up; 
consequential. 

Stud,  ;/.  One  of  the  scantlings  between  the  sill  and  plate  of  a 
building  to  which  the  weatherboarding  is  nailed  on  the  out- 
side and  the  laths  on  the  inside. 

Stud,  n.     A  stallion  kept  for  service  in  breeding;  a  stud-horse. 

Studdy,  adj.     For  steady. 

Stud-horse,  n.  A  horse  kept  in  the  stud  for  breeding  purposes; 
a  stallion. 

Studien's,  n.  pi.     For  students.      ' '  Two  pews  for  the  use  of  the 

studien'  s." 

Stud-minder,  ;/.      A  man  who  has  charge  of  a  stud-horse. 

Studs,  n.  pi.  When  a  person  or  animal  is  obstinate  and  will  do 
neither  one  thing  or  another  he  is  said  to  "  take  the  studs." 

Studying,  pres.  part.  Meditating;  pondering;  thinking. 
"  There  they  all  sat  silent  around  the  fire  studying." 

Stuff,;/.     Goods;  possessions  in  general.     Furniture.     Rubbish. 

(2)  Woven  material ;  a  textile  fabric  of  any  kind;  specifically, 

a  woollen  fabric.      Medicine.     (3)    "Stuff  and  nonsense." 

Foolish  talk. 
Stuff,  v.     Fill  with  stuffing  or  packing;  to  stuff  a  turkey.     (2) 

To  stuff  out,  to  fill,  round,  or  puff  out;  swell  to  the  full; 

distend;  expand. 

Stuffing,  ?i.  Seasoned  or  flavoured  material,  such  as  bread- 
crumbs, chestnuts,  mashed  potatoes,  or  oysters,  for  filling 
the  body  of  a  fowl. 

Stuffy,  adj.     Stuffed  out;  fat,  said  of  a  person. 


372  Stumbly— Sucker. 

Stumbly,  adj.     Liable  to  stumble;  given  to  stumbling. 

Stump,  v.  To  strike  unexpectedly  and  sharply,  as  the  foot  or 
toes  against  something  fixed:  as,  to  stump  one's  toe  against 
a  stone.  (2)  To  bring  to  a  halt  by  obstacle  or  impediment, 
block  the  course  of;  stall;  foil.      (3)  To  walk  heavily. 

Stump,  n.  The  part  of  the  tree  remaining  in  the  ground  after 
the  tree  is  cut  down. 

Stumper,  //.     One  who  or  that  which  stumps  in  any  sense. 

Stumps,  n.  pi.  Legs;  to  hurry  up,  make  haste.  To  stir  your 
stumps 

Stump-tailed,  adj.  Having  a  stumpy  tail;  bob-tailed;  used  in 
derogatory  sense  applied  to  a  person.  "  He  is  a  stumD-tail 
fellow  anyhow." 

Stumpy,  adj.  Having  the  character  or  appearance  of  a  stump; 
short  and  thick;  stubby. 

Stunner,  n.  One  who  or  that  which  stuns,  or  excites  astonish- 
ment; a  person,  an  action,  or  thing  that  astounds  or  amazes. 

Stunning,  p.  a.  Very  striking;  astonishing;  by  fine  quality  or 
appearance;  of  a  most  admirable  or  wonderful  kind. 

Stunt,  v.  To  check;  cramp;  hinder;  stint;  used  of  growth  or 
progress.  (2)  To  check  the  growth  or  development  of; 
hinder  the  increase  or  progress  of;  cramp;  dwarf. 

Stutter,  v.  To  speak  with  a  marked  stammer;  utter  words 
with  frequent  breaks  and  repetition  of  parts,  either  habitu- 
ally or  under  special  excitement. 

Sty,  ?i.  A  circumscribed  inflammatory  swelling  of  the  edge  of 
the  eyelid,  like  a  small  bile. 

Sucker,  n.     A  pump-valve. 

Sucker,  n.  A  parasite;  a  sponge.  (2)  A  sprout  from  the  root 
of  a  plant  near  the  stalk. 

Sucker,  v.  To  strip  off  suckers  or  shoots  from;  deprive  of 
suckers;  to  remove  superfluous  shoots  from  corn-stalks,  or 
tobacco. 


Suckle— Sulk.  373 

Suckle,  v.     To  give  suck  to;  to  nurse  at  the  breast 

Suckling,  adj.  Sucking,  as  a  young  animal;  not  yet  weaned: 
as,  a  suckling-pig. 

Sudden,  ;/.  A  sudden.  At  once  and  without  notice;  suddenly. 
"  He  made  up  his  mind  all  of  a  sudden." 

Suddenly,  adv.  For  the  present;  and  at  this  time.  "With 
ground  sufficient  for  a  graveyard  and  shall  suddenly  be 
bounded  by  four  corner  trees  to  be  planted." 

Suds,  ;/.  pi.  Water  impregnated  with  soap,  forming  a  frothy 
mass.      (2)  In  the  suds,  in  turmoil  or  difficulty;  in  distress. 

Suet,  n.  The  fatty  tissue  about  the  loins  or  kidneys  of  certain 
animals:  as,  mwXlow-suei. 

Suet  dumpling,  n.  Made  of  wheat  flour  and  beef  tallow, 
properly  seasoned,  then  boiled. 

Suffer,  v.  To  endure;  support  bravely  or  unflinchingly;  sus- 
tain; bear  up  under. 

Sugar,  n.      Pet  word  for  a  child.     "  Come  here,  sugar.''1    Suger. 

Sugar-berry,  n.     Same  as  hackberry. 

Sugar-candy,  n.     Sugar  clarified  or  concreted  or  crystalized. 

Sugar-loaf,  n.  A  conical  mass  of  refined  sugar.  Covered 
with  thick  blue  paper,  tied  with  a  strong  twine  string  with 
a  loop  at  the  top  of  the  cone  by  which  it  was  hung  from  a 
nail  in  the  country  stores.  When  wanted  for  use  pieces 
were  broken  off  with  a  case  knife  and  the  barn-key. 

Sugar-teat,  u.  Sugar  tied  up  in  a  rag  of  linen  of  the  shape 
and  size  of  a  woman's  nipple,  and  moistened,  given  to  an 
infant  to  suck  to  quiet  it. 

Sugary,  adj.     Sweet;  honeyed;  alluring;  sometimes  deceitful. 

Sulk,  ;/.  A  state  of  sulkiness;  sullen  fit  or  mood;  often  in  the 
plural:  as,  to  be  in  the  sulks ;  to  have  a  fit  of  the  sulks. 

Sulk,  v.  To  be  sulky;  indulge  in  a  sulky  or  sullen  mood;  be 
morose  or  glum. 


374  Sulky — Sun-pain. 

Sulky,  adj.  Silently  resentful;  dogged;  morose;  sullen;  moody; 
disposed  to  keep  aloof  from  society,  or  repel  the  friendly 
advances  of  others. 

Sulky,  n.  A  light,  two-wheel  carriage  for  one  person,  drawn 
by  one  horse. 

Sum,  )i.  Example  in  arithmetic;  ciphering,  is  doing  sums.  (2) 
Sum-book,  u.      In  which  sums  and  rules  were  written  down. 

Summer-time,  «.     The  summer  season;  summer. 

Summery,  adj.  Like  summer.  "  This  weather  begins  to  feel 
summery." 

Summons,  v.     To  serve  with  a  summons. 

Summun,/iw/.     Someone.     A  particular  person. 

Sun,  v.  To  expose  to  the  sun;  sunning  himself,  basking  in  the 
sun.     To  dry  in  the  sun;  to  air. 

Sun-bonnet,  n.  Made  long  to  come  over  the  face,  with  a  cape 
to  cover  the  neck,  worn  by  women  in  the  country,  made 
usually  of  coloured  calico. 

Sunburn,  v.  To  discolour  or  scorch  by  the  sun;  tan;  said  es- 
pecially of  the  skin  or  complexion. 

Sunburnt,  p  a.  Discoloured  by  the  heat  or  rays  of  the  sun; 
tanned;  darkened  in  hue:  as,  a  sunburnt  skin. 

Sunday,  ;/.  To  look  both  ways  for  Sunday.  Often  said  of  a 
person  staring  vacantly  about.  "What  are  you  standing 
there  for,  looking  both  ways  for  Sunday  ?  " 

Sun-dog,  n.      A  mock  sun. 

Sundown,  //.     Sunset;  sunsetting. 

Sun-pain,  ;/.  Face-ache;  neuralgia  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
face,  said  to  come  on  with  the  sun  and  go  off  as  the  sun 
goes  down.  Cured  by  hanging  a  piece  of  lead  around  the 
neck  made  of  an  ounce  bullet,  with  nine  holes  in  it,  in  the 
form  of  a  triangle. 


Sunshade — Swallow-tail.  375 

Sunshade,  n.  A  parasol;  in  particular  form,  the  handle  of 
which  is  hinged  so  that  the  opened  top  could  be  held  in  a 
vertical  position  between  the  face  and  the  sun. 

Sun-up,  n.     Sunrise. 

Sup,  n.     A  small  quantity  of  liquid;  he  took  a  sup  of  whiskey. 

Supm,  ;/.     Something.      ' ' Tell  me  sup'm. " 

Suppen,  n.     Something. 

Supper-time,  n.     The  time  when  supper  is  taken;  evening. 

Sure,  adj.  Sure  enough,  certainly;  without  doubt.  To  be 
sure,  certainly;  without  doubt. 

Sure-enough,  adj.  Genuine;  real;  not  imitation:  as,  sure- 
enough  butter. 

Surmise,  v.  To  infer  or  guess  on  slight  evidence:  conjecture; 
suspect. 

Suspicion,  v.  To  suspect  of  having  done  a  bad  deed.  'I 
suspicioned  him  at  once." 

Sut,  n.     A  black  substance  formed  by  combustion.     Soot. 

Sut-tea,  n.  Sut  put  into  warm  sweetened  water;  given  to 
babies  for  colic. 

Sutty,  adj.     Covered  with  sut. 

Swad,  n.     A  lump,  mass,  or  bunch. 

Swag,  v.  To  sink  down  by  its  weight;  lean;  sag.  (2)  To 
move  as  something  heavy  and  pendent;  sway. 

Swage,  v.     To  make  quiet;  soothe;  assuage.     (2)  To  reduce  a 

swelling  in  size. 
Swagger,  v.     To  strut  with  a  defiant  or  insolent  air,  or  with  an 

obtrusive  affectation  of  superiority. 

Swagging,  p.  a.     Swaggy;  pendulous. 

Swaggy,  adj.     Sinking,  hanging,  or  leaning  by  its  own  weight. 

Swaller,  n.     A  form  of  szvallow. 

Swallow-pipe,  n.     The  gullet. 

Swallow-tail,  ;/.      A  dress  coat;  a  swallow-tail  coat. 


376  Swamp — Sweat. 

Swamp,  v.     To  overwhelm;  to  ruin. 

Swampy,  a^//'.  Consisting  of  swamp;  like  a  swamp;  low,  wet, 
and  spongy:  as,  swampy  land. 

Swang,  v.     Past  tense  of  swing. 

Swan's-down,  n.  A  fine  thick  soft  woollen  cloth.  (2)  A 
thick  cotton  cloth  with  a  soft  nap  on  one  side. 

Swap,  n.     An  act  of  swapping;  a  barter  and  exchange. 

Swap,  v.     To  exchange;  to  barter. 

Sward,  n.  Swarth;  swath.  The  grassy  surface  of  land;  turf; 
that  part  of  the  soil  filled  with  the  roots  of  grass,  forming  a 
kind  of  mat. 

Swarm,  v.  To  gather  around  in  a  cluster.  "The  people  just 
swarmed  around  him  like  a  passel  of  bees. ' ' 

Swash,  ;/.  A  narrow  sound  or  channel  of  water  lying  within 
a  sand-bank,  or  between  that  and  the  shore:  as,  a  "  swash- 
channel.  ' ' 

Swash,  v.  To  spill  or  splash  water  about;  dash  or  flow  noisily; 
splash. 

Swathe,  n.  The  whole  reach  or  sweep  of  a  scythe;  also,  the 
path  or  passage  so  cut.      Pronounced  swarth. 

Sway,  n.      Rule;  control.      "  When  he  comes  he  has  full  sway. " 

Sway,  v.     To  move  backward  and  forward;  wave  or  swing. 

Sway-backed,  adj.  Having  the  back  naturally  sagged  or 
hollowed  to  an  unusual  degree,  as  a  horse. 

Sway-pole,  >i.  A  long  pole  fixed  at  the  top  of  a  post  as  a 
pivot,  by  which  water  is  drawn  from  a  well.  (2)  A  pole  in 
the  kitchen-chimney  on  which  chains  and  hooks  are  hung 
for  hanging  pots  over  the  fire  in  cooking. 

Swear,  v.  To  swear  by,  to  treat  as  an  infallible  authority; 
place  great  confidence  in. 

Sweat,  v.  To  sweat  for  it,  to  suffer  for  an  offence;  pay  the 
penalty  for  a  wrong  done. 


Sweaty— Swift.  377 

Sweaty,  <adj.     Moist  or  stained  with  sweat. 

Sweep,  n.  A  device  for  drawing  water  from  a  well  by  means 
of  a  long  pole  resting  on  a  tall  upright  as  a  fulcrum. 

Sweet,  adj.     Clean;  wholesome;  fresh;  applied  to  smell. 

Sweetening,  n.  That  which  sweetens;  a  substance,  as  sugar, 
used  to  sweeten  something.  Long  sweetening,  molasses. 
Short  sweetening,  sugar. 

Sweetheart,  n.  Commonly,  a  girl  beloved.  (2)  A  piece  of 
thorn  or  briar  which  becomes  attached  to  woman's  dress  and 
drags  along  after  her.      Beau. 

Sweethearting,  v.  Courting.  "  I  remember  when  John  used 
to  go  there  sweethearting." 

Sweeting,  n.     A  kind  of  apple. 

Sweet-potato,  n.  The  eatable  root  of  the  Batata,  that  has  its 
name  from  the  sweet  taste. 

Sweetscented,  adj.  Used  to  express  a  good  quality  of  to- 
bacco; also  as  a  superlative:  as,  a  sweetscented  scoundrel. 
(2)  Parishes  were  divided  into  two  classes:  "the  sweet- 
scented  and  the  oranoco, ' '  according  to  the  quality  of  tobacco 
raised  in  them. 

Sweet-shrub,  n.     Sweet-swud.     Calycanthus. 

Sweet-tooth,  //.  A  person  who  is  fond  of  sweet  things  is  said 
to  have  a  sweet-tooth. 

Swell,  ;/.  A  man  with  great  claims  to  admiration;  one  of  dis- 
tinguished personality;  a  dandy:  as,  a  howling  swell. 

Swell,  adj.     First  rate  of  its  kind;  hence,  elegant;  stylish. 

Swelling,  n.  A  tumour  or  any  morbid  enlargement.  "He's 
got  a  swelling  on  his  neck." 

Swelter,  v.     To  faint  with  heat;  be  ready  to  perish  with  heat; 

overcome  with  heat  and  perspiration. 
Swift,  n.     Swifter.     An  adjustable  machine  on  which  a  skein 

of  yarn,  silk,  or  other  thread  is  put  in  order  that  it  may  be 

wound  off  in  balls. 


378  Swig — Swipe. 

Swig,  n.     A  large  or  deep  draught. 

Swig,  v.  To  drink  by  large  draughts;  drink  off  rapidly  and 
greedily. 

Swill,  n.  Drink;  liquor  as  drunk  to  excess:  so  called  in  con- 
tempt.     (2)   Hog-wash. 

Swill,  v.     To  drink  greedily  or  to  excess. 

Swiller,  ;/.     One  who  swills;  one  who  drinks  to  excess. 

Swill-tub,  n.     A  drunkard;  a  swill-pot. 

Swim,  v.  To  cause  to  swim  or  float.  To  furnish  with  sufficient 
water  to  swim  in.  "  I  saw  him  swim  his  horse  over  the 
river. ' ' 

Swimming,  n.      Dizziness,  a  swimming  in  the  head. 

Swimmingly,  adv.  In  an  easy  gliding  manner,  as  if  swimming; 
smoothly;  easily;  without  obstruction;  with  great  success; 
prosperously. 

Swindle,  n.  Anything  that  is  deceptive  or  not  what  it  is  said 
or  thought  to  be. 

Swinge,  v.     To  singe. 

Swingeing,/),  a.     Great;  huge. 

Swinger,  n.  Made  by  ropes  fastened  overhead,  and  with  a 
scut  in  which  children  swing  backwards  and  forwards. 
"  He  fell  out  of  the  swinger  and  broke  his  arm." 

Swinger,  n.  Anything  very  great  or  astonishing;  a  stunner; 
hence,  a  bold  lie;  a  whopper. 

Swingletree,  n.  A  cross  bar  pivoted  at  the  middle,  to  which 
the  traces  are  fastened  in  a  cart,  carriage,  plough,  etc. 

Swingletree-hook,  n.  A  curved  metallic  hook  joined  to  a 
ring  which  is  fitted  over  the  end  of  a  swingletree.  The 
hook  receives  the  trace  coming  on  its  side. 

Swink,  v.     A  form  of  shrink.     To  contract  spontaneously. 

Swipe,  ;/.  A  hard  blow;  a  stroke  with  the  full  swing  of  the 
arm:  as,  a  swipe  with  a  knife;  a  S7vipe  with  a  whip. 


Swipe— Tablefull.  379 

Swipe,  v.  To  strike  with  a  long  or  wide  sweeping  blow;  de- 
liver a  hard  blow  or  stroke  with  the  full  swing  of  the  arms. 
(2)  To  wipe  up  water  with  a  cloth:  as,  swipe  up  that  water. 

Swiper,  //.  One  who  swipes;  one  who  gives  a  hard  blow;  a 
hard  blow.     (2)  A  hard  drinker.      "  He  is  a  great  swiper." 

Swish,  adv.  In  a  swishing  manner,  or  with  a  swishing  sound; 
with  a  swish. 

Swish-tail,  n.  Switch-tail.  Long,  trailing,  uncut  tail,  as  a 
horse. 

Switch,  n.      A  small,  flexible  twig  or  rod. 

Switchel,  ;/.  A  drink  made  of  molasses  and  water,  and  some- 
times a  little  vinegar  and  ginger. 

Switching,  n.     A  beating  with  a  switch. 

Switch-tail,  ;/.  A  long,  flowing,  uncut  tail:  as,  "A  switch- 
tail,  sorrel  mare;  opposed  to  lt  bob-tail." 

Swivel,  v.  To  shrivel;  to  swivel  up.  Draw,  or  be  drawn  into 
wrinkles. 

Swivet,  n.  Nervous  haste;  fidgets;  a  hurry.  "Keep  still, 
you  are  always  in  such  a  swivet." 

Swizzle,  v.     To  drink  habitually  and  to  excess. 

Swizzle-stick,  n.     A  stick  or  whisk  used  in  making  drinks. 

Swomp,  n.     A  form  of  swamp. 

Sycamore,  n.     Button  wood;  the  plane  tree. 

T 

Ta-ta,  interj.     Thank  you.     A  child's  word. 

Tabby,  n.     A  female  cat.      Tabby-cat. 

Tabellion-publick,  n.     Tabellion.     Official  scribe  or  scrivener 
having  some  of  the  functions  of  a  notary;  one  who  draws    . 
up  legal  papers.     ."  Notary  and  tabellion  publique." 

Tablefull,  ;z.      As  much  as  a  table  will  hold,  or  as  many  as  can 
be  seated  round  a  table:  as,    "There  were  two  table  fulls  of 
them  at  dinner." 


380  Table-manners— Tail-band. 

Table-manners,  n.  pi.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  sat  on  different 
sides  of  the  table  at  meats;  the  older  ladies  nearer  the  head 
of  the  table  where  the  mistress  sits. 

Tables,  n.     Backgammon. 

Tack,  v.     To  attack. 

Tack,  v.  To  nail  slightly;  as,  to  tack  two  pieces  of  plank  to- 
gether.     "  Put  the  books  in  the  box  and  tack  the  top  on." 

Tackle,  v.  To  attempt;  to  take  in  hand.  To  attack  or  fasten 
upon;  set  to  work  in  any  way;  undertake  to  master,  per- 
suade, solve,  perform,  etc. 

Tacks,  n.  pi.     Very  small  nails  with  broad,  flat  heads. 

Tacky,  n.  Anything  of  little  or  no  value;  of  inferior  quality. 
(2)  An  ill-fed  or  neglected  horse;  a  rough,  bony  nag;  some- 
times used  also  of  persons  in  the  same  condition. 

Tafia,  n.     A  spirit  distilled  from  molasses;  an  inferior  grade  of 

rum. 
Tag,  v.     To  cut  off  with  shears  the  dirty  pieces  of  wool  about 

a  sheep's  tail  is  tagging. 

Tag,  v.  To  walk  laboriously,  or  with  difficulty.  (2)  To  go 
along  or  about  as  a  follower:  as,  to  tag  after  a  person;  to 
tag  behind  a  procession.  "I've  been  tagging  about  all 
day. "      "  He's  always  tagging  after  her. ' ' 

Tag,  n.  A  children's  game  in  which  one  player  chases  the 
others  till  he  touches  or  hits,  tags,  one  of  them,  who  then 
takes  his  place  as  tagger. 

Tag,  ;/.     The  long  leaves  of  the  pine  tree;  p\ne-tag. 
Tag-end,   ;/.       A   loose  or   unconnected   end;    the   concluding 

part. 
Tail,  u.      Backside. 
Tail,  n.     The  whole  skirt   of  a   woman's  dress.      "With   her 

coat-tail  over  her  head." 

Tail-band,  n.     A  crupper. 


Tail-board— Taky.  381 

Tail-board,  n.  The  board  at  the  hinder  part  of  a  cart  or  wag- 
gon, which  can  be  removed  or  let  down  for  convenience  in 
loading. 

Tail-end,  n.     The  end,  finish,  or  termination;  the  fag-end. 

Tailings,  n.  pi.  Of  grain  the  lighter  kernels  that  are  blown 
away  from  the  rest  in  fanning.     Tail-ends.     Tail-eends. 

Taint,  v.  To  render  putrid,  deleterious,  or  unfit  for  use  as  food 
or  drink. 

Take  after,  v.  To  resemble  in  face  or  carriage.  "That  boy 
takes  after  his  father. ' ' 

Take-in,  n.     Deception;  fraud;  imposition. 

Take  in,  v.  Referring  to  the  time  of  beginning  something. 
"  The  school  takes  in  at  9  o'clock." 

Takel,  n.  A  device  or  appliance  for  grasping  or  clutching  an 
object,  connected  with  means  for  holding,  moving,  or  ma- 
nipulating it.      "  Block  and  takel." 

Take  notice,  v.  When  a  baby  first  begins  to  show  signs  of 
intelligence  it  is  said  to  take  notice.  (2)  Also,  when  a 
widower  begins  to  look  at  the  women  with  the  intention  of 
repairing  his  loss. 

Take-off,  n.  An  imitation  or  mimicking;  a  caricature:  a  bur- 
lesque representation.  A  satirical  person.  ' '  He  is  a  great 
take-off. ' ' 

Take  off,  v.  To  mimic;  to  make  fun  of.  '  He  is  always  tak- 
ing off  people." 

Take  out,  v.  Refers  to  the  time  of  stopping  work.  "  It  is  12 
o'clock  and  is  time  to  take  out,"  this  is  to  take  oid  the  mules 
from  the  ploughs  or  waggons. 

Taking,/,  a.  Captivating;  engaging;  attractive;  pleasing. 
(2)  Easily  taken;  contagious:  catching. 

Taky,  adj.  Capable  of  taking;  captivating,  or  charming;  de- 
signed to  attract  notice  and  please;  taking;  attractive. 


382  Tale— Tantivy. 

Tale,  n.      Telling  what   is   not   true.      "You   are  telling   tales 
now."     Astoryof  doubtful  authority;   "  Nothing  but  tales" 

Taliaferro.     A  proper  name.     Spelt  Talliphero,  Toliphero  and 
Tallephero.     Pronounced    Toliver. 

Talk,  n.      Language;  speech;  lingo. 

Talkative,  adj.      Inclined  to  talk  or  converse;  ready  or  apt  to 
engage  in  conversation:  freely  communicative;  chatty. 

Talking-to,  n.  A  reprimand;  a  scolding:  as,  to  give  one  a 
good  talking-to. 

Talky,  adj.  Abounding  in  talk;  disposed  to  talk:  as,  a  talky 
man. 

Tall,  adj.  Fine;  proper;  admirable;  great;  excellent.  (2)  Ex- 
traordinary; remarkable;  extravagant:  as,  fa// talk. 

Tally,!-.  To  accord:  as,  "That  tallys  with  what  I've  already 
heard." 

Tally,  n.  A  mark  made  to  represent  a  certain  number  of  ob- 
jects; every  fifth  mark  is  usually  called  a  tally,  and  counting 
aloud  the  word  tally  is  used  instead  of  number  five,  after 
which  the  counting  begins  again. 

Tallywags,  v.  A  man's  privates;  the  virile  member.  Tarri- 
wags.     Bailey. 

Tan,  v.     To  beat;  flog;  thrash. 

Tan-fat,  n.  The  tanner's  fat  or  vat  in  which  hides  are  soaked 
in  a  solution  of  tannin. 

Tangle,  n.     A  perplexity  or  embarrassment;  a  complication. 

Tanglefoot,  >i.     Whiskey  or  other  intoxicating  beverage. 

Tanglesome,  adj.     Tangled;  complicated. 

Tangly,  adj.      Knotted;  intertwined;  intricate;  snarly. 

Tankard,  //.      A  metal  mug;  usually  silver  or  pewter. 

Tantivy,  adj.  Swift;  rapid.  Remembered  as  a  swift  canoe 
rowed  with  six  oars  called  the  "Tantivy." 


Tantrums— Taste.  383 

Tantrums,  n.  pi.  A  burst  of  ill  humour;  a  display  of  temper; 
an  ill-natured  caprice. 

Tap,  n.     Nut  of  a  screw,  the  female  thread  being  cut  inside. 

Tap,  n.  A  gentle  blow;  a  slight  blow,  as  with  the  fingers  or  a 
small  thing.      "A  tap  on  the  head." 

Tar-brush,  n.  To  have  a  touch  of  the  tar-brush,  to  have  a 
a  dash  of  black  or  dark  blood  in  the  veins,  showing  in  the 
colour  of  the  skin. 

Tarbucket,  n.  A  small  wooden  keg  holding  a  gallon  or  two 
of  tar  and  lard  mixed,  used  for  axletrees;  also  applied  to 
kill  ticks  on  animals.     Tar-pot. 

Tarrapin,  n.     A  terrapin. 

Tarrify,  v.  To  annoy;  to  tease.  "  These  fleas  larrify  me  to 
death."  "  I  can't  wear  woollen  next  to  my  skin,  it  tarrifies 
me  so." 

Tarrier,  n.     A  sort  of  dog.     Terrier. 

Tarry,  v.     To  wait;  linger.      "  Go  at  once,  don't  tarry.'''' 

Tart,  adj.  Sharp  to  the  taste;  sour.  Sharp;  keen;  severe; 
cutting;  biting:  as,  tart  language. 

Tartar,  n.  A  savage,  intractable  person;  a  person  of  a  keen, 
irritable  temper;  as  applied  to  a  woman,  a  shrew;  a  vixen: 
as,  "  She  is  a  regular  Tartar.'" 

Task,  n.  Labour  imposed;  especially,  a  definite  quantity  or 
amount  of  labour;  work  to  be  done;  that  which  duty  or 
necessity  imposes.  A  lesson  to  be  learnt;  a  portion  of  study 
imposed  by  a  teacher.      Burdensome  employment;  toil. 

Task,  v.  To  impose  a  task  on;  assign  a  definite  amount  of 
labour  to. 

Task-work,  n.  Work  done  by  the  job  or  the  piece,  as  opposed 
to  time-work. 

Taste,  n.  A  small  portion  given  as  a  sample;  a  morsel,  bit, 
sip  tasted,  eaten  or  drunk.      "  You  hardly  gave  me  a  taste." 


384  Taste— Tearing. 

Taste,  ;/.     Narrow,  thin  silk  ribbon.     "  10  yds.  of  taste  3s.  401." 

Tasty,  adj.  Having  good  taste,  or  nice  perception  of  excellence. 
In  conformity  to  the  principles  of  good  taste.  Palatable; 
nice;  fine. 

Tater,  n.     A  form  of  potato. 

Tater-trap,  //.     The  mouth. 

Tatters,  n.  pi.     Ragged  clothes:  he  is  all  in  tatters. 

Tattle,  v.     To  gossip;  carry  tales. 

Tattle,  n.      Prate;  idle  talk  or  chat;  trifling  talk. 

Tattling,/,  a.  Given  to  idle  talk;  apt  to  tell  tales;  tale-bear- 
ing. 

Tattoo,  n.  A  beating  or  drumming  with  the  fingers  on  a  table 
or  other  piece  of  furniture;  an  indication  of  impatience  or 
absence  of  mind. 

Tauten,  v.  To  become  taut  or  tense.  To  make  taut,  tense  or 
tight;  tighten;  stiffen. 

Tavern,  n.  A  public  house  where  both  food  and  drink  are 
supplied. 

Taw,  ;/.  The  marble  used  by  a  boy  to  shoot  with  in  the  sev- 
eral games.  (2)  To  come  to  taw,  to  come  to  a  designated 
line  or  position;  be  brought  to  account. 

Tawny,  adj.  A  dark-  or  dull-yellowish  colour;  tan-coloured; 
fawn-coloured-buff.      "Tawny  complexion." 

Tea-fight,  //.     A  tea-party. 

Teakle,  ;/.     Tackle:  a  "block  and  teakle" 

Team,  n.  Two  or  more  horses  or  mules  driven  in  harness  to- 
gether: as,  a  four-horse  tea///. 

Teapot,  n.     A  boy-child's  virile  member. 

Tear,  n.     A  spree.      "  He  has  been  on  a  tear." 

Tearing,  p.  a.  Great;  rushing;  tremendous;  towering;  rant- 
ing: as,  a  tearing  pace.  (2)  V.  To  tear  along;  to  go  or 
drive  at  a  very  rapid  pace. 


9 


Tease— Tejus.  385 

Tease,  v.  To  vex,  annoy,  disturb  or  irritate  by  petty  requests, 
by  silly  trifling,  or  by  jests  and  raillery;  plague  with  ques- 
tions, importunity,  insinuations,  raillery,  or  the  like. 

Tease,  n.     One  who  or  that  which  teases;  a  plague. 

Teaser, ;/.  Anything  which  teases,  or  causes  trouble  or  annoy- 
ance. (2)  An  inferior  stallion  used  to  excite  mares,  but  not 
allowed  to  serve  them. 

Teasing,/,  a.     Vexing;  irritating;  annoying. 

Teaster,  n.  The  frame  which  connects  the  tops  of  the  posts  of 
a  four-post  bedstead,  and  the  material  stretched  upon  it,  the 
whole  forming  a  sort  of  canopy. 

Tea-things,  n.  pi.  The  articles  of  the  tea-service  taken  col- 
lectively; more  especially,  the  tea-cups,  tea-pots,  etc. 

Tedious,  adj.  Annoying;  disagreable;  offensive;  uncongenial. 
' '  I  hate  that  man  he  is  so  tedious. ' ' 

Tediousome,  adj.     Tedious. 

Teekle,  n.     Tackle;  block  and  teekle,  block  and  rope  for  a  pur- 
chase. 
Teen,  num.     For  ten.      "  Teen  pounds  starling." 

Teens,  n.  pi.  The  years  of  one's  age  included  within  these 
numbers.  These  years  begin  with  thirteen,  and  end  with 
nineteen,  and  during  this  time  the  person  is  said  to  be  in  his 
or  her  teens. 

Teensy,  adj.     Small.      "  Little  teensy  bit  of  a  boy." 

Teeny,  adj.     Very  small. 

Tetotally,  \xdv.     Totally;  entirely;  used  emphatically. 

Tee-totum,  n.  A  small  four-sided  toy  of  the  top  kind,  used 
by  children  in  ,a  game  of  chance.  The  sides  are  marked 
thus:  T,  take  up;  P,  put  up;  A,  all;  N,  none. 

Tehee,  n.     A  laugh:  from  the  sound. 

Tehee,  v.     To  laugh  contemptuously  or  insolently;  titter. 

Tejus,  adj.     Tedious. 

25 


386  Tek— Terrible. 

Tek,  v.     To  take. 

Teld,  v.     Past  tense  and  past  part,  of  tell. 

Tell,  v.  To  tell  one  good-bye  is  to  bid  him  good-bye.  (2) 
To  recognize;  distinguish.  "I  could  tell  her  among  a 
hundred."      "  To  tell  one  from  another." 

Tell,  v.  To  tell  tales;  play  the  informer;  blab.  "If  you  do 
I'll  tell." 

Tell ,  prep.      Till.      ' '  Wait  tell  next  week. ' ' 

Telltale,  n.  One  who  heedlessly  or  officiously  gives  informa- 
tion about  the  private  affairs  of  others;  one  who  tells  that 
which  is  supposed  to  be  secret  or  private;  a  blabber;  an  in- 
former; a  tale-bearer.     A  liar. 

Temper,  n.  Disposition  of  mind;  frame  of  mind;  inclination; 
humour;  mood:  as,  a  hasty  temper. 

Temple-wires,  n.  pi.  An  implement  used  in  a  hand-loom  for 
keeping  the  cloth  stretched,  while  the  sley  beats  the  threads 
into  place  after  each  throw  of  the  shuttle.      Temples. 

Tenants,  ;/.  pi.     For  tenons. 

Tend,  v.  To  look  after;  take  care  of;  to  have  the  charge,  care 
or  supervision  of:  as,  to  tend  a  machine;  to  tend  a  sick  per- 
son. 

Tendance,  ;/.  Attendance;  the  work  or  act  of  tending  or  car- 
ing for  some  person  or  thing;  attention;  care;  watchfull  su- 
pervision or  care.      "Dr.  A's  account  for  tendance  on  B." 

Tendence,  n.     Tendency. 

Tender,  adj.  Not  strong;  not  hardy;  not  able  to  endure  hard- 
ship or  rough  treatment;  delicate;  weak. 

Tender-hearted,  adj.      Having  great  sensibility;  susceptible. 

Ten-penny  nails,  n.  pi.  Are  nails,  a  thousand  of  which  weigh 
ten  pounds. 

Terrible,  adj.  Excessive;  tremendous;  severe;  great:  as,  a 
terrible  bore. 


Terror— Thick-set.  387 

Terror,  ;/.     A  person  or  thing  that  terrifies  or  strikes  with  ter- 
ror; a  cause  of  dread  or  extreme  fear. 

Tetchy,  adj.      Peevish;  fretfull;  irritable. 

Thang,  v.     For  thank.      "  Thang  God." 

Thanky,  v.      "  Thank  you,"  for  something  offered  or  received. 
"  She  didn't  even  say  thanky." 

That  same.     That  same,  a  cry  to  set  on  dogs.     Records. 

That-there,  pron.     That;  that  one,  person  or  things. 

Thawy,  adj.     Growing  liquid;  thawing;  inclined  to  thaw. 

The  house,  n.     Where  the  master  lives.      "You  must  go  to 
the  house  to-morrow  morning  soon." 

Them, pron.     These;  those.      "  Them's  'em,  these  are  them." 

Them  there,^;w;.    Those.    "  Which  do  you  want?  "    "Them 
there. ' ' 

The  other  day,  n.     Some  indefinite  day  before  yesterday. 

Thereaway,  adv.     In  those  parts;  there;  thereabouts. 

Therm,  n.     The  therm,   thum-gnt,   the  coecum   of  an  animal 
stuffed  full  of  sausage-meat  and  smoked.     Tharm. 

Thick,  adj.     Close  in  friendship;  intimate. 

Thick-and-thin,  adj.      Ready  to  go  through  thick  and  thin; 
thorough;  devoted. 

Thicken,  v.     To   increase  the  consistency  of  liquids:    as,    to 
thicken  gravy  with  flour. 

Thicken,  v.     To  grow  stouter.      "At  59  he  has  thickened." 

Thicket,  n.     A  number  of  shrubs,  bushes,  or  trees  growing  close 
together. 

Thickety,  adj.     Abounding  in  thickets. 

Thick-head,  n.     A  stupid  fellow;  a  blockhead;  a  numskull. 

Thick-of-hearing.     Slightly  deaf. 

Thick-set,  adj.     Low  and  strongly  built. 


388  Thick-skinned — Thoroughgoing. 

Thick-skinned,  adj.  Insensible  to  reproach,  ridicule  or  insult; 
dull;  stolid. 

Thief,  n.     A  faulty  wick  in  a  candle,  which  causes  it  to  waste. 

Thin,  adj.  In  the  sense  of  small.  "A  very  thin  funeral."  "A 
thin  attendance  at  church." 

Thing,  n.  A  person;  commonly  used  as  a  term  of  contempt  or 
pity.  "  He's  an  ugly  old  thing''  (2)  When  used  to  ex- 
press a  purpose,  action,  or  result,  it  has  the  force  of  imply- 
ing satisfaction.      ' '  If  you'  11  come  that'  11  be  the  very  thing. 

Thingamy,  n.  Thingumajig.  Thingumbob.  Thingummy. 
An  indefinite  name  for  any  person  or  thing  which  a  speaker 
is  at  a  loss,  or  too  indifferent,  to  designate  more  precisely. 

Things,;/./)/.  Clothes;  personal  apparel.  (2)  Cattle;  sheep; 
live  stock.      "  It's  nearly  night,  and  time  to  feed  the  things." 

Think  of,  v.  To  remember;  to  recollect.  "  I  didn't  think  of 
it  in  time  to  go." 

Think  on,  v.     To  consider  carefully.      "  I'll  think  on  it." 

Thin-skinned,  adj.    Unduly  sensitive ;  easily  offended ;  irritable. 

Third-day-ague-and-fever.  A  term  used  when  the  chill 
comes  on  the  third  day;  tertian. 

This-a-way,  pron.   This  way. 

This-here,  adj.     This;  near  at  hand. 

Thole-pin,  n.  The  peg  in  a  rowlock  against  which  the  oar 
bears  in  rowing. 

Thoroughbred,  adj.  Having  qualities  characteristic  of  pure 
breeding;  high  spirited;  mettlesome;  elegant  or  graceful  in 
bearing.     Said  of  a  pers/n  or  horse. 

Thoroughfare,  n.  That  through  which  one  goes;  a  place  of 
travel  or  passage.  A  place  through  which  much  travel 
passes.  (2)  Long,  narrow  body  of  water  through  mudflats 
connecting  two  bodies  of  water. 

Thoroughgoing,  aftj.  Unqualified;  out-and-out;  thorough; 
complete. 


Thort— Thrive.  389 

Thort,  ?/.     Thwart,  the  seat  in  a  boat  on  which  one  sits  to  row. 

Thother,  adj.     A  contraction  of  the  other:  as,  thother  side. 

Thoughtful,  adj.  Mindful  as  to  something-  specified;  heedfull; 
carefull.    Showing  regard  or  consideration  for  others ;  kindly. 

Thoughtless,  adj.     Unthinking;  heedless;  careless;  giddy. 

Thouten,  prep.     Without.      "  Thouten  he  comes  to-day." 

Thrash,  v.  To  beat  soundly,  as  with  a  stick  or  whip;  drub; 
hence,  to  beat  in  any  way.  (2)  To  practice  thrashing; 
beat  out  grain  from  straw  with  a  flail  or  a  thrashing-machine. 

Thrasher,  n.  A  thrashing  machine;  a  machine  for  separating 
the  grain  of  wheat  from  the  head. 

Thrasher,  n.  A  kind  of  thrush,  related  to  the  mocking-bird. 
Jack-thrasher. 

Thrashhold,  n.     The  plank,  stone,  or  piece  of  timber  which 
lies  at  the  bottom  of  a  door,  or  under  it,  particularly  the 
door   of   a   dwelling-house;    a    door-sill;    hence,  entrance ;- 
gate;  door. 

Thrashing,;/.  A  beating;  a  whipping.  "He  got  a  good 
thrashing  for  his  badness." 

Threadbare,  adj.  Having  the  thread  bare;  worn  so  that  the 
nap  was  lost  and  the  thread  visible,  either  wholly  or  in  cer- 
tain parts.  Wearing  threadbare  clothes;  shabby;  seedy. 
(2)  Well-worn;  much  used.      Hence,  trite;  hackneyed. 

Threatening,/),  a.  Indicating  some  impending  evil;  indicat- 
ing rain  or  snow.      ' '  Threatening  weather. 

Three-ply,  adj.     Consisting  of  three  parts  or  thicknesses. 

Thribble,  adj.     Treble;  triple;  threefold. 

Thrid,  n.     Thread. 

Thrifty,  adj.  Thriving;  nourishing;  prosperous.  "  The  crops 
look  very  thrifty  this  year." 

Thrive,  v.     To  grow  vigorously  or  luxuriantly;  flourish. 


390  Throat-latch— Thunder-clap. 

Throat-latch,  ;/.  A  strap  which  passes  under  a  horse's  neck 
and  holds  the  headstall  in  place. 

Throttle,  v.  To  choke;  suffocate;  stop  the  breath  by  compress- 
ing the  throat;  strangle. 

Through  and  through,  adv.  Completely  through.  The  bul- 
let went  through  and  through. 

Throw,  v.  To  cut  down  trees.  When  he  threw  the  tree  it 
lodged  and  broke  off  near  the  top. 

Throwing  the  hatchet,  phr.     Telling  lies.      "He  is  given  to 

throwing  the  hatchet. 
Throw  up,  v.     To  vomit. 

Thrum,  n.     The  fringe  of  thread  which  remains  attached  to  a 

loom   when    the  web    has    been   cut  off;  also,  one  of  such 

threads. 
Thrums,  ;/.  pi.     Coarse  yarn;  waste  yarn. 
Thumbed,  adj.      Marked    with   thumb-marks:    as,  a    thumbed 

book. 
Thumb-ring,  n.     A  ring  designed  to  be  worn  on  the  thumb. 

Often    a   seal-ring,  and    in    that    case    probably  worn    only 

occasionally,  as  when  occupied  in  business. 

Thumb-stall,  n.  A  case  or  sheath  of  leather  or  other  sub- 
stance to  be  worn  on  the  thumb.  (2)  A  piece  of  paper 
folded,  and  used  by  children  to  keep  their  books  clean. 

Thump,  ;/.     To  strike  with  the  middle-finger  by  means  of  the 

thumb.      "  To  thump  a  watermelon  to  see  if  it  is  ripe,"  by 

the  sound. 
Thumper,  ;/.      A  thing  or  person  that  is  impressive  by  reason 

of  hugeness  or  greatness;  an  unusually  big  fish,  lie,  etc.;  a 

whopper. 
Thumping,/),  a.     Unusually  large  or  heavy;  big. 

Thunderation,  >/.      An  exclamation. 

Thunder-clap,  n.  A  clap  or  burst  of  thunder;  a  sudden  re- 
port of  a  discharge  of  atmospheric  electricity;  a  thunder- 
peal. 


Thunder-cloud— Tidies.  391 

Thunder-cloud,  n.  A  cloud  that  produces  thunder  and  light- 
ning. 

Thunder-gust,  n.     A  thunder-storm,  with  wind. 

Thundering,  p.  a.  Unusual;  extraordinary;  great;  tremen- 
dous. 

Thundery,  adj.  Betokening,  characterized  by,  or  accompa- 
nied with  thunder,  or  atmospheric  disturbance  caused  by 
electric  discharges. 

Thusty,  adj.     Thirsty. 

Tick,  ;/.     Credit;  trust:  as,  to  buy  on  tick. 

Tick,  n.  The  cover  or  case  of  a  bed,  which  holds  the  feathers, 
hair,  moss,  cornshucks  or  other  material  conferring  softness 
and  elasticity. 

Ticket,  ?i.     Word  of  approval.      "  That's  the  ticket." 

Tickler,  n.  A  small  bottle  holding  about  half  a  pint  of  spirits, 
or  just  enough  to  tickle. 

Ticklish,  adj.  Doubtfull;  difficult;  critical.  Easily  tickled; 
tickly;  touchy.  (2)  Also  applied  to  a  boat  very  easy  to 
upset:  as,  a  ticklish  canoe. 

Tickly,  adj.      Easily  tickled;  ticklish. 

Ticky,  adj.  Used  of  persons  in  a  rough  or  unpolished  condi- 
tion. (2)  Term  used  to  describe  Rio  coffee  from  its  taste. 
"  This  coffee  is  very  ticky." 

Tide-mill,  n.  A  mill  on  a  small  tidal  stream  the  wheel  of  which 
is  moved  by  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide. 

Tide-rip,  ;/.      Rough  water  made  by  meeting  of  opposite  tides. 

Tide-water,  n.  Water  affected  by  the  ordinary  ebb  and  flow 
of  the  tide.  (2)  The  low  plain  of  eastern  Virginia,  extend- 
ing from  the  Atlantic  coast  westward  about  a  hundred  miles. 

Tidies,  n.  pi.  A  more  or  less  ornamental  covering  for  the  back 
of  a  chair,  the  arms  of  a  sofa,  or  the  like,  to  keep  them  from 
becoming  soiled. 


392  Tidy— Time-of-day. 

Tidy,  adj.  Of  neat  and  orderly  habits;  disposed  to  be  neat  and 
orderly. 

Tidy,  v.      To  make  neat;  put  in  good  order;  often  followed  by 

up:  as,  to  tidy  up  a  room. 
Tie,  n.     Something  that  binds:    a  bond;    obligation,  moral  or 

legal;  ties  of  blood. 

Tiff,  n.  A  petty  quarrel  or  misunderstanding;  a  slight  pet,  or 
ht  of  peevishness. 

Tige,  ;/.     A  word  for  a  dog:  as,  "sick  him  tige."     Tike;  tyke. 

Tight,  adj.  Close-fisted;  narrow;  niggardly;  parsimonious:  as, 
a  man  tight  in  his  dealings. 

Tight,  adj.     Under  the  influence  of  liquor;  tipsy;  drunk. 

Tights,  ;/.  pi.  Garments  clinging  closely  to  the  legs,  or  to  the 
whole  form,  and  intended  either  to  display  the  form  or  to 
facilitate  movement  or  both,  as  in  the  case  of  dancers,  acro- 
bats, or  gymnasts. 

Tight-squeeze,  n.  Being  in  a  tight  squeeze  is  being  in  a  diffi- 
culty. "He  got  through  his  examinations,  but  it  was  a 
tight-squeeze. ' ' 

Till,  ;/.  A  small  box  or  tray  put  at  one  end  of  a  trunk  or  box. 
(2)  The  money  drawer  in  a  shop. 

Tilt,  n.     Awning  to  a  boat;  cloth  cover  to  a  waggon. 

Tilt,  v.  To  rush;  charge;  burst  into  a  place:  as,  he  came  full 
tilt.  (2)  To  incline;  cause  to  heel  over;  give  aslope  to;  to 
raise  one  end  up:  as,  to  tilt  a  barrel  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
emptying  of  it. 

Timbered,/),  a.      Made  or  furnished  with  timber  or  timbers: 

as,  a  well  -timbered  vessel;  we\\-ti/nbered  land. 
Timber-getter,  n.       One   engaged    in    timber-getting;  cutting 

down  trees,  cutting  to  right  length  and  hewing  to  right  shape 

for  sending  to  market. 
Time-of-day,  ;/.     To  know  a  person  slightly  is  to  know  him  so 

as  to  pass  the  time-of-day  on  meeting. 


Time  or  two— Tire.  393 

Time  or  two,  n.  Once  or  twice;  an  uncertain  number  of 
times,  but  very  few.  "  I've  seen  him  a  time  or  two  since  he 
got  back." 

Timersome,  adj.     Timoursome.     Timid;  easily  frightened. 

Tin-can,  n.  A  cup  made  of  tin  holding  about  a  pint,  used  for 
drinking  purposes. 

Tinder,  n.     Something  easy  to  burn:  as,  it  burns  like  tinder. 

Tinker,  v.  To  repair  or  put  into  shape  rudely,  temporarily,  or 
as  an  unskilled  workman.     To  tinker  up. 

Tinned,/),  a.  Covered,  overlaid,  or  covered  with  tin:  as  tinned 
dishes. 

Tiny,  adj.  Very  diminutive;  minute.  It  is  frequently  used 
with  little  as  an  intensification  of  its  force:  as,  a  tiny  little 
boy. 

Tip,  v.  To  lean  or  slant  from  the  perpendicular;  incline  down- 
ward or  to  one  side.     To  tip  2ip;  to  tip  over;  upset. 

Tip,  v.  To  touch  a  marble  lightly  when  the  taw  is  shot,  giving 
the  player  another  shoot. 

Tipsy,  adj.  Overcome  with  drink  so  as  to  stagger  slightly; 
partly  drunk;  fuddled;  boozy. 

Tiptoe,  n.  In  the  plural,  with  reference  to  posture  or  move- 
ment on  the  ends  of  the  toes  of  both  feet.  (2)  The  ends 
of  the  toes  collectively;  the  forward  extremity  of  the  foot, 
or  of  the  feet  jointly;  on  tiptoe,  a  cautious  or  mincing  move- 
ment, or  a  stretching  up  to  the  greatest  possible  height. 

Tiptop,  n.  The  extreme  top;  highest  point  in  altitude,  excel- 
lence, etc. 

Tiptop,  adj.  Of  the  highest  order  or  kind;  most  excellent; 
first-rate.      "  That  gray  is  a  tiptop  horse." 

Tiptop,  adv.  In  a  tiptop  manner;  in  the  highest  degree;  to 
the  top  notch. 

Tire,  n.     The  iron  band  of  a  wheel. 


394  Tired  as  a  dog — Toilsome. 

Tired  as  a  dog,  past  part.     Completely  worn  out  by  exertion. 
"  I've  been  walking  all  day  and  am  as  tired  as  a  dog:" 

Tiresome,  adj.     Exhausting  the  patience  or  attention;  weari- 
some; tedious;  prosy. 

Tiry,  adj.     In  a  tired  condition;  liable  to  become  tired,  or  give 
out  from  fatigue. 

Tit,  ?/.      A  teat. 

Tit-bit,  n.     A  delicate  morsel. 

Tit-tat-toe,  n.     A  child's  game. 

Titter,  n.     A  restrained  or  nervous  laugh;  a  giggle;  a  snicker. 

Tittivate,  v.     To  dress  neatly.     To  dress  or  spruce  up;  smarten 
one's  self. 

Tittle,  n.     A  very  small  thing;  a  minute  object  or  quantity;  a 
particle;  a  whit. 

Titty,  n.     A  teat;  the  breast;  especially,  the  mother's  breast;  a 
child's  word. 

To,  prep.     The  pronunciation  is  always  to,  never  too. 

Toast,  v.     To  warm  thoroughly:  as,  to  toast  one's  feet 

Tobarcoe,  //.      For  tobacco. 

Tod,  n.     A  drink;  toddy. 

Toddle,  n.     A  walk  taken  in  a  toddling  fashion,  as  by  a  child, 
or  an  invalid;  a  careless  stroll. 

Toddy,  a.     A  drink  made  of  spirits,  water  and  sugar,  with  nut- 
meg. 

Toddy-stick,    ;/.      A    stick    used    for    mixing   toddy   or   other 
drinks,  often  roughened  for  breaking  loaf-sugar. 

To-do,  ;/.     Hustle;  fuss;  commotion;  a  row.    Trouble.     "There 
was  a  great  to-do  about   it."     Occurrence  of  a  public  kind. 
*  There  is  going  to  be  a  big  to-do  in  town  next  week." 

Toggery,  ;/.     Clothes. 

Toilsome,  adj.      Attended  with  toil;  demanding  or  compelling 
toil;   laborious;    fatiguing. 


Token — Tongue.  395 

Token,  ;/.  Apparition,  or  other  sign.  "  He  will  not  live  long 
as  he  has  seen  a  token  of  his  death." 

Tolerable,  adj.      In  fair  health;  passably  well. 

Toll,  n.  A  portion  of  grain  retained  by  a  miller  as  a  compen- 
sation for  grinding.  (2)  The  quantity  of  corn  sent  to  mill 
each  week  was  called  the  "to//,"  or  "turn." 

Toll,  v.  Tole.  To  draw;  invite;  entice;  allure:  as,  the  farmer 
tolled  the  animals  out  of  the  pen  and  down  the  road. 

Toll-corn,  n.  Corn  taken  at  a  mill  in  payment  for  grinding. 
The  quantity  taken  was  fixed  by  law. 

Tol-lol,  adj.  Tolerably  good;  pretty  fair. 

Tomboy,  n.  A  wild,  romping  girl. 

Tom-cat,  //.  A  male  cat,  especially  a  full  grown  male  cat. 

Tom-fool,  n.     A  silly  fool;  a  trifler. 

Tomfoolery,  n.  Foolish  trifling;  ridiculous  behaviour;  non- 
sense. 

Tomtit,  n.     A  small  bird. 

Tom-walkers,  n.  pi.  Stilts  on  which  boys  walk;  in  the  country 
usually  made  of  sapplings,  a  limb  being  used  for  the  foot- 
rest. 

Tong,  v.  To  handle  or  use  tongs,  to  catch  something,  as 
oysters,  with  tongs. 

Tonger,  ;/.  One  whose  occupation  is  catching  oysters  with 
tongs. 

Tonging,  n.  The  use  of  oyster- tongs;  the  method  or  practice 
of  taking  oysters  with  tongs. 

Tongman,  n.  One  who  uses  the  tongs  in  taking  oysters;  a 
tonger. 

Tongue,  n.  A  part  of  a  buckle;  the  piece  that  goes  through 
the  hole  in  the  strap.  A  person  who  finds  difficulty  in  pay- 
ing his  way  is  said  "To  find  it  hard  to  make  buckle  and 
tongue  meet." 


X 


396  Tongue-lashing — Top  off. 

Tongue-lashing,  n.      A  scolding;  wordy  abuse. 

Tongue-tied,  adj.  Dumb;  compelled  to  be  silent.  Indistinct 
in  utterance;  stuttering. 

Tonguey,  adj.      Loquacious;  garrulous. 

Tony,  adj.  Of  high  tone;  affecting  social  elegance;  genteel; 
swell. 

Toodles,  ;/.  pi.     A  male  child's  genitals. 

Toofies,  ;;.  pi.     Child's  name  for  teeth. 

Tool,  ii.     A  man's  penis. 

Tools,  n.  pi.      Farming  implements. 

Toot,  ;/.     To  project;  stand,  stick,  or  bulge  out.     To  shoot  up, 
'  as  plants  out  of  the  ground. 

Tooth,  n.      Palate;  relish;  taste:  as,  a  siveet-tooth. 

Toothfull,  ii.  A  small  draft  of  any  liquor.  "You  don't  call 
that  a  drink,  it  isn't  a  toothfull." 

Top,  //.  Top  of  the  pot,  the  highest  point  or  position  attain- 
able; the  top  rank  in  the  social  scale,  in  a  profession,  or  the 
like.  (2)  Top  of  the  voice,  in  the  highest  voice.  "  I  called 
him  at  the  top  of  my  voice." 

Top,  :■.     To  top  the  candle  is  to  snuff  it. 

Top,  v.  To  top  corn  is  to  cut  off  the  stalk  above  the  ear;  the 
top  is  used  for  fodder. 

Top-dressing,  ;/.     A  dressing  of  manure  laid  on  the  surface  of 

the  land. 

Toper,  ;/.  One  who  habitually  drinks  alchoholic  liquors  to 
excess;  a  hard  drinker;  a  sot. 

Top- fodder,  n.  The  top  of  a  cornstalk  above  the  ear,  cut  oft" 
and  dried  for  forage. 

Topknot,  ii.      Any  knot,  tuft  or  crest  worn  or  growing  on  the 

head. 
Top  off,  v.     To  finish;    end   up.      "They  eat  everything  and 

topped  off  with  whiskey."      "  Top  off  a  stack  of  wheat." 


Top-sawyer— Tottle.  397 

Top-sawyer,  u.  The  sawyer  who  takes  the  upper  stand  in  a 
saw-pit.  (2)  One  who  holds  a  higher  place  than  another; 
a  chief  over  others;  a  superior.  (3)  A  person  of  conse- 
quence or  importance;  a  prominent  person. 

Topsyturvy,  adv.  Upside  down;  in  reverse  of  the  natural 
order;  hence,  in  a  state  of  confusion  or  chaos. 

Torectly,  adv.  A  form  of  directly.  Directly;  straight  away; 
at  once.      "  He'll  come  torectly.'''' 

To-rights,  n.  pi.      In  proper  order  or  condition.      "You  must 

put  things  to-rights  at  once." 
Torment,  n.     A  state  of  suffering,  bodily  or  mental;  misery; 

agony.      (2)  One  who,  or  that  which,  torments  others. 

Torn-down,  adj.  Rough;  violent;  turbulent  rebellious;  un- 
governable; hence,  overpowering  of  its  kind.  "She  is  a 
torn-dozen  piece. ' ' 

Torn-down,  n.     An  unruly  or  unmanageable  person. 

Tossel,  n.  The  flower  at  the  top  of  the  stalk  of  corn.  (2)  A 
tuft  at  the  end  of  a  cord. 

Tossel,  v.  To  put  forth  a  tossel;  especially,  corn.  "  My  corn 
is  about  to  tossel.'" 

Toss-up,  n.     A  case  in  which  conditions  or  probabilities  are 

equal. 
Tot,  n.     A  drink;  and  the  small  cup  from  which  it  is  taken,  is 

also  a  tot. 
Totch,  v.      For  touched. 

Tote,  v.  To  carry  or  bear,  especially  in  the  arms,  on  the 
shoulders,  or  on  the  back,  as  a  burden  or  load.  '  They 
were  by  Beverly  comanded  to  go  to  work,  fall  trees  and 
mawl  and/^a/railes."  1677.  Bacon's  Rebellion,  Gloster 
Grievances,  Vol.  II,   p.  156.      MS.  Virginia  State   Library. 

Tother,  pron.     Other.      That  other. 

Totter,  v.     To  stagger:  he  tottered  as  he  walked. 

Tottle,  v.     To  totter;  to  walk  with  short  uneven  steps.      "  He 
"is  old  and  goes  tottling  about." 


398  Touch— Track. 

Touch,  n.  A  slight  attack  of  any  disease.  "  He  had  a  touch 
of  the  grip." 

Touch,  v.  To  touch  the  gums  ;  to  cause  slight  salivation  by  the 
use  of  mercury. 

Touch-and-go,  adj.  Of  uncertain  action  or  outcome;  that 
may  explode,  go  off,  or  come  to  a  head  on  the  least  touch 
or  provocation;  hence,  ticklish;  uncertain:  applied  to  per- 
sons, circumstances,  or  actions. 

Touchous,  adj.  Touchy.  Apt  to  take  offence  on  slight  prov- 
ocation; irritable-  irascible;  peevish;  testy;  techy. 

Tough,  adj.  Hard  to  manage  or  accomplish;  difficult;  trying; 
requiring  great  or  continued  effort.      Toiigh  customer. 

Tousle,  v.  To  put  into  disorder,  as  by  pulling  about  roughly; 
dishevel;  rumple:  as,  to  tousle  one's  hair, 

Tout,  v.     Toot.     To  blow  notes  on  a  horn. 

Tower,  u.  A  turn  round  some  place;  a  going  round  from 
place  to  place;  a  continued  ramble  or  excursion;  a  short 
journey:  as,  a  wedding  tower. 

Tow-headed,  adj.     Having  hair  like  tow. 

Townfolks,  n.     People  who  live  in  towns. 

Toy-dog,  n.     A  very  small  dog  kept  as  a  pet. 

Trab-ball,  n.  Trap-ball.  An  old  game  played  by  two  or  more 
persons  with  a  ball,  bat,  and  trap.  (2)  The  ball  used  in  the 
game  of  trab-ball. 

Trace-chain,  n.     A  chain  used  as  a  harness  trace. 

Trace-hook,  ;/.  A  hook  on  the  end  of  a  singletree  for  fasten- 
ing a  trace. 

Track,  v.  In  playing  marbles,  a  boy  who  hits  one  marble  may 
"  take  track  off  it,"  that  is,  he  gets  another  shoot. 

Track,  v.  To  follow  up  the  tracks  of;  follow  by  the  tracks  or 
traces  left  by  that  which  is  followed;  trace;  trail. 

Track,  >i .  A  tract  of  land.  (2)  A  brief  printed  treatise  or 
discourse  on  some  topic  of  practical  religion. 


Tractable— Trash.  399 

Tractable,  adj.  Easily  managed.  "He  is  a  very  tradable 
boy." 

Trade,  n.     A  purchase  or  sale;  a  bargain;  an  exchange. 

Trade,  v.  To  exchange  one  thing  for  another:  as,  to  trade 
horses. 

Tradesmen,  n.  pi.     Men  who  work  at  trades;  mechanics. 

Train-oil,  n.     Common  whale  oil. 

Trammel,  n.  An  iron  hook  by  which  a  pot  is  hung  over  the 
fire. 

Trammel,  v.  To  confine;  to  hamper.  Trammels  are  used  to 
tie  together  the  legs  of  a  horse  on  the  same  side  to  make 
him  pace. 

Tramp,  ;/.     A  walk;  a  journey. 

Trampoose,  v.  To  tramp;  walk  or  wander  about.  "To  go 
trampoosing  about  in  the  mud  and  water." 

Trance,  v.     To  tramp:  travel. 

Trance,  n.     A  state  of  perplexity  or  bewilderment;  amaze. 

Transport,  v.  To  carry  people  from  one  part  to  another  by 
sea,  as  in  transport-ships.  It  does  not  mean  that  they  were 
sent  as  felons.  It  simply  means  that  they  were  conveyed. 
Also,  applied  to  animals.  "  No  mares  or  sheep  to  be  trans- 
ported out  of  the  country." 

Trapes,  ;/.     Traipse.      A  slattern;  an  idle  sluttish  woman. 

Trapes,  v.  To  walk  along  in  an  untidy  manner;  walk  carelessly 
and  sluttishly;  run  about  idly.     To  gad  or  flaunt  about  idly. 

Trap-sticks,  >i.  pi.  Small  split  sticks  one  or  more  feet  long 
for  making  traps  to  catch  birds. 

Traps,  n.  pi.     Goods;  furniture. 

Trash,;/.  Waste;  refuse;  rubbish;  dross;  that  which  is  worth- 
less or  useless.  A  low  worthless  person.  (2)  The  super- 
fluous twigs,  branches,  and  leaves  that  fall  from  trees:  as, 
woods-/rtf.y/?. 


400  Trashy— Trench. 

Trashy,  adj.  Composed  of  or  resembling  trash,  rubbish,  or 
dross;  waste;  worthless;  useless. 

Tread,  n.  Copulation  of  fowls.  (2)  The  thread-like  embryo 
in  an  egg. 

Tread,  v.     To  copulate,  as  birds:  said  especially  of  a  cock-bird. 

Treadle,  n.  A  foot-lever  in  a  hand-loom.  (2)  The  tough 
ropy  or  stringy  part  of  the  white  of  an  ego;;  the  cholaza. 
So  called  because  formerly  thought  to  be  the  male  sperm. 

Tread-softly,  n.  Treadsoft.  A  low  weed  armed  with  white 
nettles  half  an  inch  long  that  sting  severely. 

Tread-snow,  v.  Fire  is  said  to  t?'ead-s?ww  when  a  blowing 
noise  is  made  by  the  escape  of  steam  from  the  burning  wood 
caused  by  the  heat. 

Tread  water,  v.  To  keep  the  head  and  shoulders  above  the 
surface  by  treading  with  the  feet  as  if  walking. 

Treat,  n.  Anything  which  affords  much  pleasure;  that  which 
is  peculiarly  enjoyable;  unusual  gratification. 

Treat,  v.  To  give  an  entertainment  which  costs  the  recipient 
nothing;  especially,  to  bear  the  expense  of  food,  drink,  or 
any  pleasure  for  another  as  a  compliment  or  expression  of 
good  will. 

Treble,  adj.     Tribil.     Threefold;  triple. 

Tree,  v.  To  drive  up  a  tree,  as  a  hunted  animal  fitted  for  climb- 
ing, such  as  animals  of  the  cat  kind,  coons,  possums,  and 
squirrels;  compel  to  take  refuge  up  a  tree,  as  a  man  fleeing 
from  wolves. 

Tree-top,  n.     The  top  or  uttermost  part  of  a  tree. 

Trembly,  adj.     Trembling;  tremulous. 

Tremendous-clip,  adj.     Going  at  a  tremendous-c/ip,  is  going 

very  fast. 
Trench,  n.      A  narrow  excavation  of  considerable  length  cut 

into  the  earth;  a  deep  furrow  or  ditch. 


Trencher— Trip.  401 

Trencher,  n.  A  wooden  plate  used  for  cutting  up  meat  and 
bread. 

Tribe,  n.  Any  class  or  body  of  persons  taken  collectively;  any 
aggregation  of  individuals  of  a  kind,  either  as  a  united  body 
or  as  distinguished  by  common  characteristics  or  occupation. 
"  Brown  and  his  tribe." 

Tribet,  n.  Trivet.  An  iron  three-footed  stand  on  which  to 
place  cooking  vessels  or  anything  which  is  to  be  kept  hot 
by  the  fire. 

Trick,  ?i.  Any  small  article;  a  toy;  a  knicknack;  a  trifle;  a 
mere  nothing. 

Trick,  v.  One  who  is  effected  by  means  of  conjuration  or 
witchcraft  is  said  to  be  tricked.     Hoodooed. 

Tricking,  part.  Some  process  by  which  one  negro  works  the 
ill  of  another.      "  That  'oman  is  tricked  and  is  going  to  die." 

Trickly,  adj.     Trickling. 

Trick- roots,  n.  pi.  Roots  of  plants  used  by  conjurers  in  their 
conjurations. 

Tricky,  adj.       Given  to  tricks;  knavish;  artfull;  sharp;  shifty. 

Trifling,/),  a.     Good-for-nothing;  worthless;  mean. 

Trig,  v.     To  dress;  trick.     All  trigged  out. 

Trigly,  adv.     In  a  trig  manner;  neatly;  trimly;  finely. 

Trim,  adj.     Neat;  spruce;  smart.      Ingood/r/w. 

Trim,  v.     To  beat;  thrash. 

Trimble,  v.     A  form  of  tremble. 

Trimming,  n.  Specifically,  a  dressing;  a  sharp  scolding;  a 
drubbing  or  thrashing. 

Trinket,  n.  A  trifling  ornament;  a  jewel  for  personal  wear, 
especially  one  of  no  great  value;  any  small  fancy  article;  a 
cherished  thing  of  slight  worth. 

Trip,  n.     A  journey  or  voyage;  an  excursion;  a  jaunt. 

26 


402  Trojan— Truck. 

Trojan,  n.  A  plucky  or  determined  fellow;  one  who  fights  or 
works  with  a  will. 

Trollop,  n.  A  woman  who  is  slovenly  in  dress,  appearance  or 
habits;  a  draggletail. 

Trollop,  v.  To  draggle;  hang  in  a  wet  state;  to  walk  or  work 
in  a  slovenly  manner.     To  run  hither  and  thither. 

Trolloping,  adj.     Going  about  in  a  slovenly,  draggled  manner. 

Tromp,  v.     To  tread  under  foot;  trample. 

Tromple,  v.  To  beat  or  tread  down  by  the  tramping  or  stamp- 
ing of  feet,  or  by  frequent  treading.  To  tread  with  repeated 
force  and  shock;  stomp;  hence,  to  stomp  roughshod;  tread 
roughly  or  contemptuously. 

Trompling,  ?i.     Trampling;  a  treading  under  foot. 

Troop,  v.  To  march  off  in  haste:  as,  "She  went  trooping 
down  the  road." 

Trooths,  n.  pi.     Pronunciation  of  the  plural  of  truth. 

Trot,  >i.  Quick,  steady  movement;  "go"  :  as,  to  keep  one  on 
the  trot  all  day. 

Trouble,  ?i.  A  source  or  cause  of  annoyance,  perplexity  or 
distress. 

Trouble,  v.  To  disturb  in  mind;  annoy;  vex;  harrass;  afflict; 
distress;  worry. 

Troublesome,  adj.      Difficult;  trying. 

Trounce,  v.  To  punish  or  beat  severely;  thrash  or  whip 
smartly. 

Truck,  >i.  Small  wares;  stuff;  goods;  gear;  belongings;  (2) 
A  barrow  on  two  small  wheels  for  carrying  bales  or  boxes. 
(3)  The  produce  of  a  truck-farm. 

Truck,  v.  Exchange;  barter;  trade  by  exchanging  goods:  as, 
the  whites  trucked  with  the  Indians  for  furs  and  skins. 

Truck,  //.      Trash. 


Trucker— Tuckey.  403 

Trucker,  n.  A  truck-farmer;  a  market-gardener;  one  who 
sells  garden-stuff,  especially  at  wholesale. 

Truck-farm,  n.     A  market-garden.     Truck-patch. 

Trudge,  v.     A  weary  or  laborious  walk  or  tramp. 

Trudge,  v.  To  make  one's  way  on  foot;  walk;  travel  on  foot; 
especially,  to  travel  wearily  or  laboriously  on  foot. 

Trump,  n.  A  person  on  whom  one  may  depend;  one  who 
spontaneously  does  the  right  thing  in  an  emergency;  a  good 
fellow. 

Trundle-bed,  n.  A  low  bed  moving  on  casters,  and  designed 
to  be  pushed  under  a  high  bed  when  not  in  use. 

Trunk,  n.  A  frame-work  of  timber  lined  with  plank  for  carry- 
ing water  to  a  water-wheel. 

Trunnel,  n.  A  cylindrical  pin  of  hard  wood  used  for  fastening 
planks  or  timbers  in  ships  and  similar  constructions.  The 
best  material  for  them  is  the  wood  of  the  American  locust. 

Trussel,  n.  A  frame,  consisting  of  a  beam  or  bar  fixed  at  each 
end  to  a  pair  of  spreading  legs,  for  use  as  a  support. 

Try,  v.  To  separate  or  reduce  by  boiling  or  steaming;  render: 
generally  with  out:  as,  to  try  oid  lard. 

Trying,/,  a.  Of  a  kind  to  test  severely  or  thoroughly;  diffi- 
cult; severe. 

Tub,  ;/.  An  open  wooden  vessel  made  of  staves,  held  together 
by  hoops,  surrounding  a  bottom. 

Tubby,  adj.     Tub-shaped;  round  like  a  tub  or  barrel. 
Tuck,  n.     Nip  and  tuck,  expresses  the  closeness  of  a  race. 

Tuckahoe,  n.  The  roots  of  plants  growing  in  Virginia,  with 
deep  fleshy  and  starchy  rootstocks,  which,  made  eatable  by 
cooking,  were  used  by  the  Indians  for  food.  (2)  The  name 
given  to  the  eastern  Virginians  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
"Quo  'he's"  of  the  west. 

Tuckey,  n.     A  form  of  turkey. 


404  Tucking-comb — Turkey-cock. 

Tucking-comb,  n.  A  comb  used  for  holding  the  hair  up  on 
the  back  part  of  the  head. 

Tudder,  pron.     The  other. 

Tug,  v.  To  exert  one's  self;  labour;  strive;  struggle;  contend; 
wrestle. 

Tug,  ;/.  A  supreme  effort;  the  severest  strain  or  struggle;  a 
contest;  tussle. 

Tug,  n.  A  short  chain  from  the  hames  to  the  shafts  of  a  cart. 
Tug -chain. 

Tumble-bug,  ;;.  One  of  several  kinds  of  dung-beetles,  that 
roll  up  balls  of  dung  in  which  their  eggs  are  laid,  and  in 
which  they  are  hatched. 

Tumble-down,  (/^/.  In  a  falling  state;  dilapidated;  decayed; 
ruinous. 

Tumbler-cart,  n.  The  body  of  the  cart  is  a  separate  box,  and 
the  load  is  thrown  out  by  upsetting  the  body. 

Tumbler-full,  n.  The  quantity  of  liquid  that  fills  or  nearly 
fills  a  tumbler. 

Tumbler-glass,  n.  A  drinking-glass,  One  without  stem, 
made  to  stand  on  a  flat  bottom.  They  were  first  made  so 
that  they  could  not  stand  up,  hence  the  name. 

Tune  up,  v.  To  get  ready  to  cry,  said  of  children.  "  He  be- 
gan to  tune  up  ready  to  cry. ' ' 

Tunnel,  n.     A  funnel. 

Tup,  v.  To  copulate  as  a  ram.  "  They  are  exhibited  with  a 
view  of  letting  one  of  them  the  ensuing  season  out  to  /?//>." 

Turk,  n.  A  savage  fellow;  a  "Tartar:"  as,  he  is  a  regular 
Turk. 

Turkemtime,  ;/.     Turpentine. 

Turkey-call,  n.  An  implement  producing  a  sound  which  re- 
sembles the  yelping  of  the  turkey-hen,  used  as  a  decoy. 

Turkey-cock,  n.  A  person  of  great  vanity  and  foolish  pride. 
So  called  in  allusion  to  the  strutting  of  the  bird. 


Turkey-eggs — Turn  out.  405 

Turkey-eggs,  n.  pi.  Freckles.  "  His  face  is  covered  with 
turkey-eggs. ' ' 

Turkey-gobbler,  ;/.     The  turkey-cock. 

Turkey-hen,  n.     The  hen  or  female  of  the  turkey. 

Turkey-pen,  n.     A  pen  contrived  for  trapping  wild  turkeys. 

Turkey-wing,  n.  The  wing"  of  a  turkey  the  quill  part  of  which 
is  hardened  bv  being  pressed  with  a  hot  flat-iron,  is  in  very 
common  use  for  a  duster. 

Turkie  wheate,  n.     Indian  corn. 

Turkle,  n.     A  turtle. 

Turn,  n.  A  load;  a  pack;  as  much  as  can  be  carried  at  one 
time  by  a  man  or  an  animal.  "  Bring  in  a  turn  or  two  of 
wood  before  night." 

Turn,  n.  The  quantity  of  corn  that  was  carried  to  mill  each 
week.  Turn  of  meal,  the  quantity  of  meal  brought  each 
week  from  the  mill.  Turn  oj  grist,  the  corn  carried  to 
mill. 

Turn,  v.  To  curdle.  To  change  from  a  fresh,  sweet,  or  other- 
wise natural  condition;  cause  to  ferment,  become  sour,  or 
the  like:  as,  warm  weather  turns  milk. 

Turn,  v.  To  change  one's  religion  or  politics.  "  She  turned 
Roman  Catholic. "  "  He  turned  republican. "  "  He  turned 
preacher. ' ' 

Turnip,  n.     A  watch.      "  What  time  is  it  by  your  turnip?" 

Turnip-sallet,  n.  The  green  turnip-tops  cooked  with  bacon, 
generally  jowl  or  middling. 

Turnipy,  adj.     Turnip-like:  having  a  turnipy  taste. 

Turn  one's  stomach,  v.  To  nauseate;  to  make  sick  at  the 
stomach.      "  He  is  enough  to  turn  one's  stomach." 

Turn  out,  v.  The  yearly  custom  of  schoolboys  of  turning  out 
the  schoolmaster  on  a  particular  day  for  the  purpose  of  get- 
ting holidays. 


406  Turnout— Twill. 

Turnout,  n.  A  carriage  or  coach  with  the  horses.  The  net 
quantity  of  produce  yielded;  production:  the  wheat  gave  a 
good  turnout  this  year;  the  oats  turnout  well.  (2)  A  road 
branching  off  from  the  main-road.  "  He  lives  on  the  main- 
road  just  before  you  come  to  Lindsay's  turnout." 

Turnover,  n.  A  kind  of  pie  in  a  semicircular  form:  so  called 
because  made  by  turning  one  half  of  a  circular  crust  upon 
the  other,  with  apples  between. 

Turn-row,  n.  The  cross-row  at  the  head  of  the  furrows 
through  which  the  ploughman  goes  from  one  side  to  the 
other  of  his  patch. 

Turtle,  n.     The  common  tortoise. 

Turtle-crawl,  ;/.  The  track  of  a  turtle  to  and  from  her  nest 
where  she  lays  her  eggs. 

Tush,  n.     A  long  pointed  tooth;  a  tusk.      PL     Tushes. 

Tushed,  adj.      Having  tushes. 

Tussle,  n.     A  struggle;  a  conflict;  a  scuffle. 

Tussle,  v.     To  struggle;  wrestle  confusedly;  scuffle. 

Tussock,  ;/.      A  clump,  tuft,  or  small  hillock  of  growing  grass. 

Tussocky,  adj.     Abounding  in  or  resembling  tussocks  or  tufts. 

Twang,  n.  A  sharp  taste;  a  disagreeable  after-taste  or  flavour 
left  in  the  mouth;  a  flavour:  a  peculiar  flavour. 

Tweedle,  ;/.     A  sound  such  as  is  made  by  a  fiddle. 

Tween,  prep.     A  contraction  of  between. 

Twell,  prep.  A  form  of  till.  "He  won't  come  tzvell  to- 
morrow. 

Tweezers,  n.  Small  tongs  for  holding  things,  used  for  pick- 
ing up,  and  for  pulling  out  hairs. 

Twick,  71.      A  twitch;  a  sudden  jerk. 

Twilight,  ;/.     Time  between  sunset  and  dark. 

Twill,  ;/.  Cloth  the  threads  of  which  are  diagonal.  Twill 
cotton.      Jeans. 


Twit— Uncouple.  407 

Twit,  v.     To  taunt;  to  tease. 

Twitch,  n.  A  loop  at  the  end  of  a  stick  a  foot  and  a  half  long 
twisted  on  the  upper  lip  of  an  unruly  horse  for  holding  him 
while  shoeing  or  drenching. 

Twitchit,  n.     Woman's  generative  organs. 

Twitter,  n.  A  tremble;  aflutter;  a  general  excitement:  as,  to 
be  in  a  twitter,  or  to  be  in  the  tzvitters.     All  of  a  twitter. 

Twitters,  n.  pi.  Thread  unevenly  spun  is  said  to  be  in  twit- 
ters.     ' '  All  in  knots  and  twitters. ' ' 

Twitteration,  n.     A  twitter;  a  flutter. 

Two-double,  adj.  Double.  "  Make  that  string  two-double,  it 
will  be  stronger." 

Type,  ;/.  A  prefigurement;  a  person,  thing  or  event  in  the 
Old  Testament  regarded  as  foreshowing  a  corresponding 
reality  in  the  new  dispensation:  as  the  paschal  lamb  in  the 
type  of  Christ.  In  a  church  in  Bristol  Parish,  among  other 
things  were  ordered  a  ' '  Pulpit  and  Type. ' ' 

U 

Udder,  n.  The  mammary  glands  of  cattle  and  various  other 
animals,  especially  when  large  and  baggy,  and  with  more 
than  one  teat,  as  two  or  four;  the  milk-bag. 

Ugly,  adj.  Ill-natured;  cross-grained;  quarrelsome;  ill-condi- 
tioned. 

Uh-hu.     A  grunt  of  assent. 

Umble,  adj.  One  of  the  few  words  where  h  is  not  sounded. 
Umphrey  is  another. 

Unc,  n.     For  uncle.      "  Unc  Henry. " 

Uncle,  n.     A  term  of  familiarity:    Uncle  Bob;    Uncle  Billy. 

Uncomeatable,  adj.  Unattainable.  "  I  tried  to  get  it  but  it 
was  not  co?nealable." 

Uncouple,  v.     Set  loose;  disjoin;  to  let  or  go  loose;  unfasten. 


408  Under— Undo. 

Under,  prep.      "  He  writes  tinder  his  own  name." 

Under  the  weather,^//;-.  Not  being  well  in  health.  Indis- 
posed; ailing. 

Underbrush,  ;/.  Shrubs  and  small  trees  growing  under  large 
trees  in  a  forest  or  woods;  brush;  undergrowth. 

Underclothes,  n.  pi.  Garments  worn  under  others;  specifi- 
cally, those  worn  next  the  skin.      Underclothing. 

Undercut,  n.  A  piece  cut  out  of  the  underpart  of  an  animals 
ear  in  marking. 

Underfoot,  prep.  Under  the  feet;  underneath;  beneath;  be- 
low. 

Undergrowth,  n.  The  small  bushes  that  grow  in  the  woods 
under  the  big  trees. 

Underhand,  adj.  Secret;  clandestine;  usually  implying  mean- 
ness or  fraud,  or  both. 

Underkeel,  n.  Mark  on  the  ear  of  an  animal  by  cutting  out  a 
small  piece  on  the  underpart;  undercut. 

Underminded,  past  part.  Undermined.  "The  place  is  all 
underminded  with  rats."  "  The  house  was  underminded  by 
the  rain." 

Underpinning,  n.  The  masonry  that  supports  stud-work. 
The  brick-  or  stone-work  on  which  the  frame  of  a  wooden 
house  is  placed. 

Undershirt,  n.  A  shirt  or  similar  garment,  as  of  woollen, 
worn  under  a  shirt  and  next  to  the  skin. 

Undertaker,  n.  Contractor;  bidder  for  a  contract.  One  who 
furnished  supplies  to  the  garrisons.  "  That  all  Sheriffs  and 
Collectors  who  have  the  charge  of  those  Payments  to  the 
Undertakers." 

Understrapper,  ;;.      Inferior  person;  a  servant. 

Underwood,  n.  Small  trees  and  bushes  that  grow  among 
larger  trees. 

Undo,  v.     To  untie  or  unfasten;  unloose;  open;  unfix. 


Unfitten— Upright.  409 

Unfitten,  adj.  Not  fit.  Improper;  unsuitable;  unbecoming. 
(2)  Not  suited  or  adapted.  Wanting  suitable  qualifications, 
physical  or  moral;  not  competent. 

Unfix,  v.  To  make  no  longer  fixed  or  firm;  loosen  from  any 
fastening;  detach. 

Unfixt,  adj.     Out  of  order;  notin  repair.     "  Two  guns  unfixt. " 

Unhandy,  adj.  Not  handy  in  any  sense;  awkward;  inconven- 
ient. 

Unloose,  v.     To  loose.     "  Unloose  that  horse  from  the  plough." 

Unlucky,  adj.     Always  in  trouble. 

Unriddle,  v.     To  solve  a  riddle. 

Unrip,  v.     To  undo  by  ripping;  rip;  tear  or  cut  open. 

Unsight,  adj.  Not  seen.  "  Unsight,  unseen,"  without  inspec- 
tion or  examination:  thus,  to  buy  anything  "unsight  un- 
seen "  is  to  buy  without  seeing  it. 

Untidy,  adj.     Dirty;  slovenly. 

Un  urn,  pron.     Of  them.      "  He  is  one  un  u/u." 

Up,  v.  To  take  up.  "  He  ups  with  a  stone  and  threw  it  at 
him."  (2)  To  raise.  "  He  up  with  his  fist  and  hit  him  in 
the  face. ' ' 

Up  and  down,  adv.  Positively;  decidedly.  "  I  told  him  up 
and  down  that  I  would  not  do  it. ' ' 

Up-a-daisy.  Oop-a-daisy.  An  expression  used  when  lifting 
up  a  child.     Also,  up-a-deedi'es,  when  lifting  a  child. 

Up-end,  v.     To  raise  something  up  and  stand  it  on  one  end. 
"  It  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  up-end  the  bale." 

Upper-crust,  n.  People  of  the  best  sort  are  spoken  of  as  the 
upper-crust. 

Upper-hand,  n.  The  advantage.  "He  got  the  tipper-hand 
of  him." 

Uppish,  adj.      Proud;  arrogant;  airs;  assuming;  self-assertion. 

Upright,  n.     Something  standing  erect  or  vertical.     A  princi- 


410  Uproar — Valance. 

pal  piece  of  timber  placed  vertically,  and  serving  to  support 
rafters. 

Uproar,  n.  Great  tumult;  violent  disturbance  and  noise;  bustle 
and  clamour;  confusion;  excitement. 

Ups  and  downs,  ;/.  Good  and  bad  fortune;  experiences  of 
life. 

Upset,  v.  Upsot.  To  discompose  completely;  make  nervous 
or  irritable  "They  were  all  very  much  upset  by  what  he 
said." 

Upshot,  )i.      Final  issue;  conclusion;  end. 

Upstairs,  n.     An  upper  story;  that  part  of  a  building  that  is 
above  the  ground  floor.      "She  has  just  gone  upstairs.''' 
Upstars. 

Upstart,  n.  One  who  assumes  a  lofty  or  arrogant  tone.  (2)  A 
fellow  of  a  new  and  late  rise. 

Up  to,  v.  What  one  is  doing  or  wants  to  do.  "  What  is  Bob 
up  to  now  ?' ' 

Up  to,  adv.  In  a  condition  to  understand,  or  do  something. 
"  What  is  he  up  to?"      "I  don't  think  he  is  up  to  much." 

Us,  prou.      "  It  was  us  that  you  saw."      "  It  was  us." 

Use,  n.      Having  a  liking  for.      "  I  have  no  use  for  him." 

Use,  v.  To  be  accustomed  to  go;  linger  or  stay  habitually; 
dwell;  frequent;  haunt. 

Use,  v.     To  treat.      "  He  ought  to  be  used  like  that." 

Utter,  adj.  Complete;  total;  entire;  perfect;  absolute:  as, 
"  He  is  an  utter  stranger." 

Uv,  prep.     Of.      "  What  has  become  uv  Jane?" 

V 

Valance,  n.  A  short  curtain  used  on  a  bedstead,  around  the 
frame  on  which  the  mattress  rests  and  reaching  nearly  to  the 
floor  to  conceal  what  may  be  under  a  tall  bed,  as  a  trundle 
bed. 


Vamp — Vinegar-cruet.  411 

Vamp,  n.     The  forepart  of  a  shoe;  the  upper. 

Varge,  n.  Vargis.  Varjis.  Changed  from  verjuice;  sour  juice 
of  apples  or  grapes;  anything  very  sour.  "As  sour  as 
varge."  Varqis,  an  acid  liquid  similar  to  vinegar,  made 
from  crab-apples. 

Varina,  n.  The  name  of  a  department  in  Venezuela  where  a 
very  fine  sort  of  tobacco  grew.  The  name  was  given  to  a 
place  in  Virginia  that  produced  a  like  good  kind  of  tobacco. 

Varmint,  n.  Any  noxious  or  troublesome  animal.  A  con- 
temptible or  obnoxious  person;  a  low  or  vile  fellow;  also, 
such  persons  collectively.     Varment. 

Vence,  v.  A  prohibitory  exclamation  used  by  boys  in  the 
games  of  marbles:  as,    Vence  !     Stop,  I  forbid  you  to  play. 

Vendue,  ?/.     Vandue.      A  public  auction. 

Venson,  n.  The  flesh  of  animals  of  the  deer  tribe,  used  as 
food. 

Vent,  ;/.  Any  small  hole  or  opening  made  for  passage.  The 
vent  in  the  barrel  of  a  gun.     (2)  A  sale  of  goods. 

Vent,  v.     To  sell. 

Vergaloo,  n.     A  kind  of  pear. 

Verge,  ;/.  The  extreme  side  or  edge  of  anything;  the  brink; 
edge;  border;  margin. 

Very  previous,  adj.  In  a  hurry;  disposed  to  do  something 
before  the  proper  time.      "  He  is  always  very  previous." 

Vilet,  n.  The  flower  violet;  also  the  colour.  "  Roses  red,  and 
vilets  blue." 

Vilyan,  ;/.     Villain.     A  scoundrel;  a  rascal;  rogue. 

Vim,  n.     Vigour;  energy;  activity. 

Vine,  n.  Any  trailing,  fruit-bearing  plant.  Strawberry;  cu- 
cumber; watermelon;  punkin. 

Vinegar-cruet,  n.  A  glass  bottle  for  holding  vinegar;  espe- 
cially, one  of  the  bottles  of  a  caster. 


412  Vinegarish — Wad. 

Vinegarish,  adj.     Sharp;  sour. 

Vinegary,  adj.  Having  the  character  of  vinegar;  hence,  sour; 
crabbed. 

Virginia  drams,  ;;.  The  brandy  distilled  from  apples  and 
peaches. 

Virginia  Reel,  ;/.  Called  Sir  Roger  de  Coverley  in  England. 
Danced  by  several  sets,  the  men  and  women  opposite  to 
each  other,  and  with  many  figures. 

Vittles,  n.  pi.  Provision  of  food;  meat;  provisions;  signifying 
commonly  food  for  human  beings,  prepared  for  eating. 

Vixen,  v.  A  turbulent,  quarrelsome  woman;  a  scold;  a  ter- 
magant. 

Vogue,  n.  The  mode  or  fashion  prevalent  at  any  particular 
time;  popular  reception,  repute  or  estimation;  common  cur- 
rency. 

Voider,  n.  A  tray  or  basket  in  which  scraps  were  carried  away 
from  the  table. 

Volunteer  gourds,  n.  pi.  Gourds  grown  from  accidentally 
planted  seed.     It  is  bad  luck  to  plant  gourds. 

W 

Wabble,  n.  A  rocking,  unequal  motion,  as  of  a  wheel  un- 
evenly hung,  or  a  top  imperfectly  balanced. 

Wabble,  v.  To  incline  to  one  side  and  the  other  alternately, 
as  a  wheel,  top,  spindle  or  other  rotating  body  when  not 
properly  balanced;  rock. 

Wabbly,  adj.  Inclined  to  wabble;  shaky;  unsteady;  tremu- 
lous. 

Wacapompecke,  n.  Wampum?  The  shells  used  in  trading 
with  the  Indians. 

Wad,  ;/.  A  small  bundle  or  wisp  of  rags,  hay,  hair,  wool,  or 
other  fibrous  material. 

Wad,  .'.     To  pad;  stuff;  fill  out  with  or  as  with  wadding. 


x 


Waddle— Walk  up.  413 

Waddle,  v.  To  sway  or  rock  from  side  to  side  in  walking; 
move  with  short,  quick  steps,  throwing-  the  body  from  one 
side  to  the  other;  walk  in  a  tottering  or  vacillating  manner. 

Wade,  v.     To  walk  in  water. 

Waffle,  n.  A  peculiar  kind  of  batter  cake  baked  in  waffle-irons 
and  served  hot. 

Waffle-irons,  n.  An  iron  utensil  for  baking  waffles  over  a  fire, 
having  two  flat  halves  hinged  together,  one  to  hold  the 
batter,  the  other  to  cover  it. 

Wag,  v.  To  move  slowly,  unevenly,  as  when  one  staggers 
along  under  a  heavy  load:  as,  "  He  had  so  much  on  his 
shoulder  he  just  could  wag."     To  move;  to  budge;  to  stir. 

Waggle,  v.  To  move  with  a  wagging  motion;  sway  or  move 
from  side  to  side. 

Waggon,  v.     To  transport,  convey,  or  carry  in  a  waggon. 

Wainscot,  n.  A  wooden  lining  or  boarding  of  the  walls  of 
rooms,  usually  made  in  panels;  pannelled  boards  of  the 
walls  of  rooms. 

Waistcoating,  n.  A  woven  stuff  made  especially  for  men's 
waistcoats,  and  different  from  cloth  intended  to  be  used  for 
coats  and  trowsers. 

Wait,  v.  To  wait  on,  to  escort;  accompany;  attend:  as,  when 
a  man  is  waiting  on  a  woman  with  a  view  to  marriage. 

Waiter,  n.     A  small  tin  tray  for  handing  plates,  teacups,  etc. 

Walk,  n.  Where  game-cocks  are  bred  and  trained.  Hence, 
"Cock  of  the  walk:' 

Walk,  n.     Manner  of  walking;  gait;  step;  carriage. 

Walk,  v.  To  move  about:  as,  "The  dead  walk  at  night." 
"  Ghosts  walk  at  night." 

Walking-papers,  n.  pi.     A  dismissal. 

Walk  up,  v.  To  increase  your  gate.  "  Walk  up  or  we  won't 
get  there  in  time." 


414  Wallet— Warm. 

Wallet,  n.  A  long  bag  with  a  slit  in  the  middle,  and  space  for 
the  contents  at  the  two  ends  that  are  closed. 

Walletfull,  n.     As  much  as  a  wallet  holds. 

Wall-eye,  n.  An  eye  in  a  condition  in  which  it  presents  little 
or  no  colour,  the  iris  being  light-coloured  or  white,  or  opa- 
city of  the  cornea  being  present. 

Walleyed,  adj.  Showing  much  of  the  white  of  the  eye;  hav- 
ing a  large  staring  or  glaring  eye. 

Wallop,  v.     To  beat  soundly;  drub;  thrash. 

Wallow,  n.  The  act  of  rolling  or  tumbling,  as  in  sand  or  mire. 
(2)  A  place  where  an  animal,  as  a  hog,  resorts  to  wallow: 
as,  a  "  Jiog-walloiv." 

Wallow,  v.  To  roll;  tumble  about.  Horses  and  mules  are 
allowed  to  wallow  on  the  ground. 

Walplate,  n.  The  plate  for  roof-timbers,  and  also  for  joists  is 
called  a  wallplate.      ' '  Walplate  tobacco  houses. ' ' 

Wampumpeage,  n.  Strings  of  white  and  black  shells,  used 
as  tokens  of  value  in  trading  between  the  whites  and  Indians, 
mentioned  in  the  earliest  county  records. 

Wander,  v.  To  think  or  speak  incoherently;  rave;  be  deliri- 
ous. 

Want,  v.  To  desire  to  see,  speak  to,  or  do  business  with;  de- 
sire the  presence  or  assistance  of;  desire  or  require  to  do 
something:  as,  "I  want  to  go." 

Wa'n't,  v.     A  form  of  was  not. 

Wapper-jaw,  >i.     A  projecting  under-jaw. 

Ward,  n.  The  Dart  of  a  key  that  goes  into  a  lock.  The  slot 
in  the  bit  of  the  key.  The  wards  are  often  named  accord- 
ing to  their  shape,  L-ward;  T-ward. 

Warf,  n.  A  wharf.  Warfage.  Warrf.  Never  with  the  sound 
of  the  h. 

Warm,  v.  To  administer  castigation  to:  as,  "  I'll  warm  him 
tor  that." 


Warming — Washwoman.  415 

Warming,  ;/.     A  whipping;  a  thrashing. 

Warn,  r.     To  notify.      "  Give  fair  warning.'" 

Warn't,  v.     Was  not. 

Warnut,  ;/.     For  walnut. 

Warp,  u.  The  threads  that  are  extended  lengthwise  in  a  loom; 
and  across  which  the  woof  is  thrown  in  the  process  of  weav- 
ing. 

Warp,  v.  Warping  consists  in  arranging  the  threads  according 
to  number  and  colour,  or  in  any  special  manner  that  may 
be  necessary,  and  to  keep  them  in  their  relative  places  after 
they  have  been  so  laid. 

Warp,  v.  To  twist  out  of  shape  by  heat,  pressure,  or  other- 
wise.     "  The  planks  were  warped  by  the  sun." 

Warping-bars,  ;/.  pi.  A  wooden  frame  on  which  the  threads 
are  prepared  and  arranged  for  the  warp  of  a  piece  of  cloth 
in  hand-weaving. 

Warp-thread,  n.  One  of  the  threads  that  form  the  warp  of  a 
web. 

Warrant-trying,  n.  A  court  held  before  a  single  magistrate 
for  the  trial  of  simple  cases,  as  small  debts,  etc. 

Washer,  n.  A  ring  on  the  end  of  an  axle-tree  between  the  end 
of  the  hub  and  the  linchpin  to  keep  the  wheel  tight  and  pre- 
vent moving  on  the  axletree;  a  ring  on  the  end  of  a  rivet 
over  which  the  point  is  beaten  down. 

Washing, ;/.  A  "  washing  "  of  clothes  is  as  much  as  is  washed 
at  one  time. 

Washing,  n.  Boys'  term  for  bathing  in  the  rivers  and  streams. 
"  He  went  in  washing  at  9  o'clock  and  didn't  come  out  un- 
till  12." 

Wash-rag,  n.  A  small  piece  of  cloth  used  in  washing  the*  per- 
son. 

Washwoman,  n.     The  woman  who  washeb  clothes. 


416  Washy— Wattle. 

Washy,  adj.  Too  much  diluted;  weak;  thin.  Feeble;  worth- 
less. 

Waspish,  adj.  Like  a  wasp  in  any  way.  Having  a  very  slen- 
der waist;  wasp-waisted;  tight-laced.  (2)  Quick  to  resent 
any  trifle,  injury  or  affront;  snappish;  petulant;  irritable. 

Watch-dog,  n.     A  dog  kept  to  watch  or  guard  premises  and 

property. 
Water,  v.     To  water  horses  or  cattle  is  to  take  them  to  drink. 

Water-can,  n.  A  vessel  holding  two  or  three  gallons,  made 
of  red  cedar  with  hoops  usually  of  copper,  for  holding  drink- 
ing-water. It  usually  stands  on  a  wooden  frame-work  called 
a  water-stand,  in  some  convenient  place  where  it  can  be 
gotten  at  easily.     The  water  is  dipped  out  with  a  cocoa-nut. 

Watercourses,  n.  pi.     Rivers  and  streams  of  running-water. 

Water-furrow,  n.  A  deep  furrow  made  for  conducting  water 
from  ground  and  keeping  it  dry;  an  open  drain. 

Water-gall,  n.  An  appearance  in  the  sky  regarded  as  show- 
ing the  approach  of  rain;  an  imperfectly  formed  secondary 
rainbow.      (2)  A  jelly-fish.     (3)  Small  watery  oyster. 

Water-hole,  n.  A  hole  or  hollow  where  water  collects:  as, 
there  are  many  water-holes  in  the  road  after  a  hard  rain. 

Water-sobbed,  adj.     Soaked  with  water. 

"Water-stand,  n.  A  wooden  frame-work  made  by  fastening 
four  upright,  parallel  sides  four  feet  long  and  a  foot  apart, 
this  placed  on  one  end  held  the  water-can  or  water-tub. 

Water-table,  n.  A  projecting  course  of  bevelled  bricks  for 
throwing  off  the  water  from  the  wall  of  a  house. 

Water- witch,  n.  One  of  several  water-birds  noted  for  their 
quickness  in  diving,  as  a  kind  of  duck. 

Wattle,  ;/.  A  frame  work  made  of  interwoven  sticks  or  twigs. 
(2)  A  round  flap  of  skin  forming  a  teat-like  excrescence  on 
each  side  of  the  neck  of  some  hogs,  and  goats.  Loose 
hanging  flesh.     (3)  The  gill  appendages  of  a  game-cock. 


Wattle— Wear  off.  417 

Wattle,  v.     To  form  by  interweaving  twigs  or  branches. 

Wattle-and-dab,  n.  A  rough  mode  of  building  huts,  cottages, 
etc. ,  of  interwoven  twigs  plastered  with  mud  or  clay. 

Wattled,  adj.     Having  a  wattle  or  wattles,  as  a  bird. 

Wave,  v.  To  give  a  signal  by  a  gesture  of  movement  up  and 
down:  as,  "  She  waved  to  me  with  her  hand." 

Wavy,  adj.     Undulating  in  movement  or  shape;  waving:  as, 

wavy  hair. 
Waynable,  adj.     At  the  right  age  to  be  weaned. 
Wax-end,  n.     A  shoemaker's  waxed  and  bristled  thread. 

Waxin-kearnels,  n.  pi.  Enlarged  lymph-nodes  sometimes 
found  in  the  groins  or  under  the  jaws  of  children.  Waxen 
kernels.     Waxen  kearnels. 

Waxy,  adj.     Angry;  wrathy. 

Way,  n.  Length  of  space;  distance:  as,  the  church  is  but  a 
little  way  from  here.  Mostly  used  as  ways:  it  is  no  great 
ways. 

Ways,  n.  pi.  Habitual  or  peculiar  mode  or  manner  of  doing 
or  saying  this:  as,  "  He  has  his  father's  ways. " 

Weak-headed,  adj.      Having  a  weak  head  or  intellect. 

Weak-hearted,  adj.     Having  little  courage;  dispirited. 

Weak-kneed,  adj.     Weak  as  regards  will  or  determination. 

Weakly,  adj.     Weak;  feeble;  not  robust:  as,  a  a/mi'/)'  woman. 

We-all's.^/w/.     Our.      "  We-alV s  Miss  Mary."      We  all,  we. 

Wean,  v.  To  accustom  a  child  or  young  animal  to  nourish- 
ment or  food  other  than  its  mother's  milk;  disaccustom  to 
the  mother's  breast:  as,  to  wean  a  child. 

Weanable,  adj.     At  a  fit  age  to  be  weaned. 

Wear,  v.  Applied  to  vigour  retained  in  age.  "He  wears 
well."      (2)   "  It  7vears  late."     It  grows  late. 

Wear   off,  v.     To   cease  by  length  of  time  or  other  causes. 

' '  Towards  night  the  fever  wore  off. ' ' 

27 


418  Wearisome — Weed. 


s 


Wearisome,  adj.  Causing  weariness;  tiresome;  tedious;  irk- 
some; monotonous. 

Weasand,  n.     Wezzen.      The  windpipe. 

Weasel,   n.       A    lean,    mean,    sneaking  fellow.      '"Thin  as   a 

zv  ease  I. 
Weather,  n.     Falling  weather,  actual  rain  or  drizzling  weather; 

wind ;  storm.    ' '  I  think  we  are  going  to  have  some  weather. 

Weather,  v.  To  affect  injuriously  by  the  action  of  the  weather. 
The  tombstone  "  has  not  been  weathered." 

Weather-beaten,  adj.  Beaten  or  marred  by  the  weather; 
seasoned  or  hardened  by  exposure  to  all  kinds  of  weather. 

Weather-boarding,  n.  A  facing  of  thin  boards,  having 
usually  a  feather-edge,  and  nailed  lapping  one  over  the 
other,  used  as  an  outside  covering  for  the  walls  of  a  wooden 
building. 

"Weather-breeder,  n.  A  fine  serene  day  which  precedes  and 
prepares  a  storm. 

Weather-dog,  n.  A  fragmentary  rainbow,  popularly  believed, 
to  be  an  indication  of  rain.     Weather-gall. 

Weather-gall,  >i.      A  faint  indication  of  a  double  rainbow. 

Weather-wise,  adj.  Skillfull  in  foretelling  the  changes  of  the 
weather. 

Wed,  v.  Perfect  tense  of  weed.  "  He  'wed  all  of  his  corn  be- 
fore the  droughth." 

Wedge,  n.  A  large  pointed  piece  of  iron  used  with  a  maul  for 
splitting  wood. 

Wedth,  ;/.  For  width.  "This  boat  has  more  wedth  than  the 
other." 

Wee,  adj.      Small;   little;  teeny. 

Weed,  n.  Any  one  of  those  herbaceous  plants  which  are  use- 
less and  without  special  beauty,  or  especially  which  are 
positively  troublesome. 


Weed— Well-favoured.  419 

Weed,  v.  To  root  up  and  remove  weeds,  or  anything  resem- 
bling weeds:  as,  to  weed  corn.       Wed,  past  tense. 

Weed,  ;/.  A  garment  of  any  sort,  especially  an  outer  garment; 
hence,  garments  in  general,  especially  the  whole  garment 
worn  at  any  time.  Now  commonly  in  the  plural,  and  chiefly 
in  the  phrase:   "  Widoiv' s  weeds." 

Weeding-hoe,  n.     A  broad  hoe  for  weeding  corn. 

Weedy,  adj.     Abounding  with  weeds. 

Week,  n.     The  wick  of  a  candle. 

Week-day,  n.  Any  day  of  the  week  except  Sunday.  Weeky- 
day. 

Weepon,  n.     For  weapon. 

Weevil,  n.  Any  insect  that  damages  stored  grain,  as  the  fly 
weevil,  or  the  grain-moth. 

Weevilly,  adj.     Infested  or  infected  with  weevils,  as  grain. 

Weft,  n.  The  threads  taken  together,  which  run  across  the 
web  from  side  to  side,  or  from  selvage  to  selvage. 

Weigh  butter  and  sell  cheese, ;/.  A  children's  game.  Two 
persons  stand  back  to  back  and  interlock  their  arms,  then 
each  by  bending  forward  alternately,  lifts  the  other  off  the 
ground. 

Weir,  n.  Pronounced  ware.  A  fence  as  of  stakes  or  twigs, 
set  in  a  stream  for  catching  fish. 

Welch-chimney,  n.  (?)  "  House  ffifteene  ffoote  broade  wth  a 
Welch-chimney  in  it." 

Well-behaved,  adj.  Of  good  behaviour  or  conduct;  becom- 
ing in  manner;  courteous;  civil. 

Well-bricks,  n.  pi.     Curved  bricks  used  for  lining  wells. 

Well-bucket,  ;/.     A  vessel  for  drawing  up  water  from  a  well. 

Well-day,  n.  In  intermittent  fever  the  day  on  which  there  is 
neither  ague  nor  fever.      "  To-morrow  is  my  well-day." 

Well-favoured,  adj.  Being  of  good  favour  or  appearance; 
good-looking;  comely. 


4'20  Well-kearb — Weyenoke. 

Well-kearb,  n.     A  kearb  or  enclosure  around  and  above  the 
top  of  a  well. 

Well-meant,  adj.      Rightly  intended;    friendly;    sincere;    not 
feigned. 

Well-read,  adj.     Having  read  largely;  having  an  extensive  and 
intelligent  knowledge  of  books  or  literature. 

Well-set,  adj.     Symmetrically  formed;  properly  joined  or  put 
together. 

Well-sweep,  n.     A  sweep  or  pivotted  pole  to  one  end  of  which 
a  bucket  is  hung  for  drawing  water  from  a  well. 

Well-timbered,  adj.     Well  furnished  with  timber:  as,   well- 
timbered  land;  a  well-timbered  vessel. 

Well-to-do,  adj.     Having  means  to  do  or  get  along  with;  well 
off;  prosperous;  forehanded. 

Well-water,  n.     The  water  of  a  well;  water  drawn   from  an 
artificial  well. 

Welt,  ;/.      A  low  superficial  ridge  or  linear  swelling,  as  on  the 

skin:  as,  to  raise  welts  on  a  person  or  animal  by  blows  with 

a  whip. 
Welt,  v.     To  beat  severely  with  a  stick  or  whip,  whereby  welts 

may  be  raised. 
Welting,  n.     A  severe  beating  with  a  whip,  stick,  strap,  or  the 

like. 

"Wench,  n.     A  negro  woman  of  any  age,  a  negro  or  mulatto, 
especially  one  in  service.     A  young  woman.     (2)  A  winch. 

Were,  v.      IVer,  not  wear. 

Wester,  v.     To  tend  or  move  towards  the  west:  as,  the  wind 

westered. 
Wet,  v.     To  mix  the  meal  with  water.      "The  bread  isn't  near 

ready.      I  haven't  wet  the  dough  yet." 

Wether,  ;/.      A  castrated  ram. 

Weyenoke,  >i.     Indian    word,   used  as   place-name,   meaning 
sassafras. 


Whack— Whet.  421 

Whack,   n.     A   heavy  blow;    a  thwack.      (2)    Full  quantity; 
share.      "I'll  get  my  whack  while  things  are  going." 

Whack,  v.    To  give  a  heavy  or  resounding  blow  to;  thwack. 

Whacker,   n.     Something  strikingly  large  of  its   kind;   a  big 
thing;  a  whopper. 

Whacking,  adj.     Very  large;  lusty;  whopping. 

Whale,   v.     To   lash  with   vigourous   stripes;    thrash  or   beat 
soundly. 

Whaling,  p.  a.     Big,   unusual,   or  extraordinary  of  its  kind; 
strapping;  whopping;  whacking. 

Whapper-jawed,  adj.     Having  a  protruding  under-jaw. 

Whang,  n.     A  blow;  a  whack;  a  beating  or  banging;  a  bang. 

Wharves,  ;/.  pi.     Plural  of  wharf,  not  wharfs. 

Whatever,   interrog.      "Whatever  became  of   Jones  and    his 
wife  ?"      "  Whatever  made  him  do  that  ?' ' 

What  for,  pron.     For  what  reason. 

What  not,  ;/.     Anything  no  matter  what;  what  you  please. 

What  say,  interrog.     For  "  What  do  you  say  ?" 

"  Wheate-strewed  to  &  agen  about  the  house  flower." 
Used  in  an  inventory  for  wheat  scattered  about  the  floor  of 
a  house. 

Wheat-tailings,  n.  pi.       The  faulty  grains  of  wheat  that  are 
blown  out  in  fanning. 

Wheedle,  v.     To  gain  or  procure  by  flattery  or  coaxing. 

Wheedling,  ;/.     The  act  or  art  of  coaxing,  cajoling,  or  delud- 
ing by  flattery. 

Wheel,  v.     To  cause  to  turn,  or  to  move  in  a  circle;  make  to 
rotate,  revolve,  or  change  direction. 

Wheel-horse,  n.     A  person  who  bears  the  brunt,  or  on  whom 
the  burden  mostly  rests. 

Whet,  n.     A  turn;  a  bout.     A  long  space  of  time:  as,  "  He 


422  Whichaway — Whipper-snapper. 

staid  such  a   whet."      "  He   has   been  such  a   whet  doing 
that." 

Whichaway,  pron.     Which  of  two  or    more  ways.       Every- 
whichaway,  everywhere. 

Whicker,  n.     The  cry  of  a  horse. 

Whicker,  v.     To  make  the  sound  of  a  horse's  voice;  to  neigh. 
To  utter  the  cry  of  a  horse. 

Whiff,  n.  A  quick  exhalation  of  air,  and  especially  of  smoke; 
a  putt  of  air  conveying  some  smell;  a  sudden  expulsion  of 
air,  smoke,  or  the  like  from  the  mouth;  a  puff.  'I  don't 
like  it,  I  only  got  a  whiff  of  it  and  that  was  enough  for  me." 

While,  n.     A  time;  a  space  of  time.      "  He  comes  every  little 

while  r 
"While,  adv.     Untill.      "  Stay  here  while  I  go  into  the  house." 

Whim,  n.     A  sudden  turn  or  inclination  of  the  mind;  a  fancy; 

a  caprice. 
Whimper,  n.     A  low,  peevish,  broken  cry;  a  whine. 

Whimper,  v.  To  cry  with  a  low,  whining,  broken  voice; 
make  a  low,  complaining  sound. 

Whimpering,  ;/.     A  low  whining  cry;  a  whimper. 

Whimsy,  ;/.     A  whim;  a  freak;  a  capricious  notion. 

Whindle,  v.  To  whimper  or  whine;  to  cry  peevishly;  to 
whimper,  used  of  a  child. 

Whinny,  v.     To  neigh;  make  the  cry  of  a  horse. 

Whip,  v.  To  sew  with  an  over  and  over  stitch,  as  two  pieces 
of  cloth  the  edges  of  which  are  laid  or  stitched  together. 

Whip-around,  v.  To  change  one's  opinion.  "  He  has 
whipped  around  to  the  other  side. ' '  The  wind  whips  around 
when  it  changes  suddenly. 

Whip-hand,  ;/.     An  advantage,  or  advantageous  position. 

Whip-lash,  n.     The  lash,  or  pliant  part  of  a  whip. 

Whipper-snapper,  n.     A  shallow,  insignificant  person. 


Whippoorwill—  Whittle.  423 

Whippoorwill,  n.     A  bird  so  called  in  imitation  of  its  cry. 

Whip-saw,  ;;.  A  saw  with  a  long  blade  used  by  two  persons 
in  a  saw-pit. 

Whipstitch,  n.  A  short  space  of  time;  a  thing  repeated  often: 
as,  he  went  in  and  out  at  every  whipstitch. 

Whip  up,  v.  To  move  briskly.  "  Whip  up  to  get  there  in 
time."      "  We  must  whip  up  or  we'll  be  there  late." 

Whirligig,  n.  A  toy  which  children  spin  in  the  hand  by  means 
of  a  string. 

Whisp,  ;/.     A  handfull  of  straw  twisted. 

Whisp-broom,  n.  A  handfull  of  straw  gathered  and  tied  at 
the  butt-ends  and  used  as  a  broom  for  brushing  clothes. 

Whisk,  n.  "Whiskies."  A  sort  of  tippet;  an  old  ornament 
for  women's  necks. 

Whistle,  11.  The  throat;  to  wet  one's  whistle,  is  to  take  a 
drink. 

Whisuntide,  n.     Whitsuntide. 

White-bread,  n.  When  people  are  not  at  their  ease  and  in 
good  circumstances  they  refer  to  their  better  days,  and  say: 
"We  were  eating  our  white-bread  then." 

Whited-brown-thread,  n.  Pale  dusky  brown,  "  whitey 
brown  ' '  thread. 

White-livered,  adj.     A  term  of  reproach. 

White-oak  broom,  n.     Same  as  "split-broom." 

Whitleather,  n.  The  nuchal  ligament  of  grazing  animals,  as 
the  ox,  supporting  the  head.  People  old  and  tough,  are 
said  to  be  in  the  ' '  whitleather  state. 

Whitlow,  ;/.  A  suppurative  inflamation  of  the  deeper  tissues 
in  a  finger,  usually  of  the  last  joint. 

Whittle,  v.  To  cut  wood  with  a  pocket-knife,  either  aimlessly 
or  with  the  intention  of  forming  something;  to  use  a  pocket- 
knife  in  cutting  wood  or  shaping  wooden  things. 


424  Who— Wiggletail. 

Who,/;'o«.  Who  all,  all  the  persons  who;  the  whole  number 
who. 

Who-all,  interrog.  Meaning  all  who:  as,  "  Who  all  were 
there." 

Whop,  ;/.     Whap.     A  heavy  slap. 

Whop,  v.  To  plump  suddenly  down  as  on  the  floor;  flop:  as, 
she  whopped  down  on  the  floor. 

Whopper,  n.  Anything  uncommonly  large:  applied  particu- 
larly to  a  monstrous  lie. 

Whopping,  adj.     Very  large;  thumping. 

Whorl,  n.  A  piece  of  wood  on  the  spindle  of  a  spinning-wheel 
with  deep  groves  cut  in  it  to  receive  the  band  from  the  large 
wheel  that  gives  motion  to  the  spindle.  The  band  was 
usually  made  of  a  stout  cotton  string. 

W 'id,  prep.     A  form  of  with. 

Wide-awake,  adj.     On  the  alert;  keen;  sharp;  knowing. 

Wid'nin,  n.  The  widening;  the  place  where  a  stocking  is 
widened. 

Widow-bewitched,  n.  A  woman  who  is  separated  from  her 
husband. 

Widow-woman,  ;/.  A  woman  who  has  lost  her  husband  by 
death.  Grass-widow,  a  woman  who  is  living  temporarily  or 
permanently  apart  from  her  husband.  An  unmarried  woman 
who  has  had  a  child.  California-widow,  came  into  use 
when  many  men  went  to  California  leaving  their  wives  be- 
hind; and  women  who  claimed  to  have  husbands  in  Cali- 
fornia when  they  had  never  been  married. 

Wiggle,  ;/.     A  waggling  or  wriggling  motion. 

Wiggle,  v.     To  waggle;  wabble;  wriggle. 

Wiggler,  7i.  One  who  or  that  which  wriggles.  (2)  A  small 
moving  animal  in  the  water. 

Wiggletail,  ;/.  One  of  the  active  larvae,  as  of  mosquitos,  seen 
in  stagnant  water. 


Wild— Window-light.  425 

Wild,  adj.  Loose  and  disorderly  in  conduct;  given  to  going 
beyond  bounds  in  pleasurable  indulgence;  ungoverned; 
more  or  less  dissolute,  wayward,  or  unrestrained  in  conduct. 
Enthusiastic,  eager;  keen;  especially,  very  eager  with  de- 
light, excitement  or  the  like.  (2)  Living  in  a  state  of 
nature;  inhabiting  the  forest  or  open  field;  roving;  wander- 
ing; not  tame. 

Wildish,  adj.     Somewhat  wild. 

Wilk,  n.     A  large  mollusk  with  convoluted  shell. 

Will,  v.     To  bequeath  by  will.      "  It  was  zvilled  to  me." 

Wilier,  n.     A  willow. 

Willow-oak,  n.     An   oak   the  leaves  of  which  are  large  and 
entire,  like  those  of  a  willow. 

Wilt,  v.     To  become  soft  or  languid;    lose   energy,    pith,    or 
strength;  to  wither. 

Wimble,  n.     A  gimlet. 

Wince,  n.     A  form  of  winch.     The  crank,  projecting  handle, 
or  lever  by  which  the  axis  of  a  revolving  machine  is  turned. 

Wind-bag,  n.     A  person  of  mere  words;  a  noisy,  empty,  pre- 
tender. 

Wind-broken,/),  a.     Diseased  in  the  respiratory  organs;  hav- 
ing the  power  of  breathing  impaired  by  chest-disease. 

Wind-colic,  n.      Intestinal  pain  caused  by  flatulence. 

Winder,  n.       For   window.       "Workmanlike    winders    in    ye 
house." 

Winder-shetters,  n.     Window-shutters. 

Windfall,  n.     Any  piece  of  good  fortune  entirely  unexpected. 

Wind-gall,    n.        Fragments   of    rainbows   seen    on    detached 
clouds. 

Winding-blades,  n.  pi.     Four  arms  on  which  a  skein  of  cot- 
ton or  yarn  is  put  to  be  wound  into  balls. 

Window-light,  n.     The  pane  of  glass  in  a  window. 


426  Windrow — Wish-bone. 

Windrow,  n.     Sheaves  of  wheat  set  up  in  a  row  one  against 
another  in  order  that  the  wind  may  blow  between  them. 

Wind-shake,  n.     A  flaw  in  the  timber  of  trees. 

Wind-shaken,  adj.     Impaired  by  the  action  of  the  wind:  as, 
wind-shaken  timber. 

Windsor-chair,  n.     A  chair  made  of  wood,  painted,  with  gilt 
figures  on  the  back  and  rounds. 

Wind-up,  n.  The  conclusion  of  final  adjustment  of  any  mat- 
ter; the  close.     (2)  Stopping  business. 

Windy,  adj.     Talkative;  boastful;  vain. 

Wine-sop,  n.     Wine-sap.     A  highly  esteemed  American  apple. 

Wink,  n.     A  nap;  sleep. 

Winker,  n.     An  eyelash. 

Winter,  v.  To  keep,  feed,  or  manage  during  the  winter:  as, 
to  winter  cattle. 

Winter-geranium,  n.     Name  for  the  crysanthemum. 

Winterish,  adj.  Wintery.  "The  weather  begins  to  feel 
winterish. ' ' 

Winter-kill,  v.  To  kill  by  cold  in  the  winter:  as,  wheat,  or 
other  vegetation. 

Wipe,  ;/.  A  quick  or  hard  stroke;  a  blow;  a  cut:  as,  with  a 
knife;  a  blow  with  a  whip. 

Wire-edge,  n.  A  thin,  wire-like  edge  formed  on  a  cutting- 
tool  by  over-sharpening  on  one  side,  which  causes  the  edge 
to  turn  over  slightly  towards  the  other  side. 

Wire-grass,  ;/.  A  grass  with  long  roots  that  look  like  wire; 
strong,  and  giving  the  farmers  much  trouble  as  it  grows 
rapidly. 

Wirey,  adj.     Of  persons,  lean  and  sinew  v. 
Wisdom-tooth,  n.     The  last  molar  in  each  jaw. 
Wish-bone,  ;/.     The  merry-thought  of  a  fowl. 


Wishy-washy — Woodgy.  427 

Wishy-washy,  adj.  Very  thin  and  weak;  diluted;  sloppy; 
feeble;  lacking  in  substantial  or  desirable  qualities;  insig- 
nificant. 

Wisp,  n.     A  handfull  of  straw. 

Witched,  v.  Persons  are  said  to  be  "witched"  when  they 
have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  witches. 

Witch-knot,  ;/.  A  knot  or  snarl  especially  in  the  hair,  sup- 
posed to  be  caused  by  witchcraft. 

Witch-ridden,  adj.      Ridden  by  witches;  having  a  nightmare. 

Witches'-  stirrup,  n.  The  tangles  in  a  colt's  mane  that  are 
used  as  stirrups  by  witches  to  mount  to  his  back. 

Withe,  n.     A  twig  or  stick  twisted  to  make  it  flexible. 

Without,  conj.     Unless.      "  I  wont  go  without  you  do." 

Wizzen,  n.     The  windpipe.     A  form  of  zveasand. 

Wizzen,  adj.      Hard,  dry  and  shrivelled;  withered. 

Wizzen-faced,  adj.     Having  a  thin,  shrivelled  face. 

Woff,  n.     The  bark  of  a  dog. 

Women-folks,  n.  pi.      Women,  especially  the  members  of  a 

household. 
Wonder,  v.     To  speculate  on  something  that  may  happen  in 

the  future.      "  I  wonder  if  it'll  rain  before  night." 

Wondering,  n.  Expressing  admiration  or  amazement;  mar- 
velling. 

Wonderstruck,  adj.  Struck  with  wonder,  admiration  or  sur- 
prize. 

Wonderment,  n.  Surprize;  astonishment.  Something  won- 
derfull. 

Wont,  v.     A  contraction  of  woll  not,  that  is,  anil  not. 

Woodgy,  adj.  Hair  tumbled  and  towselled  about,  like  one 
frantic,  enraged:  as,"  woodgy  headed."  (2)  Any  connec- 
tion with  O.  E.  wood  =  mad;  crazy?     Woodly.      Woodlich. 


428  Wood-cock— Woolly. 

Wood-cock,  n.  The  large,  red-crested  woodpecker.  Lob- 
cock. 

Wood-cutter,  n.  A  person  who  cuts  wood;  one  who  cuts 
down  trees,  cuts  them  into  proper  lengths  and  splits  them 
for  use. 

Wooden,  adj.  Dull;  stupid,  as  if  with  no  more  sensation  than 
wood. 

Wooden,  v.     Wouldn't.     Wouden. 

Wooden-head,  ;/.  A  blockhead;  a  thick-headed,  dull,  or  stu- 
pid person;  numskull. 

Woodenware,  //.     Tubs,  buckets,  etc.,  of  wood. 

Wood-horse,  n.  A  saw-horse.  A  framework  on  which  logs 
of  wood  are  put  to  be  sawn  into  lengths  for  use. 

Wood-rick,  n.     A  pile  of  cord-wood  laid  in  order. 

Woods,  )i.  Always  used  in  the  plural  when  speaking  of  a  forest. 
"  Fresh  woods  and  pastures  new." 

Woodsy,  adj.  Belonging  to  or  associated  with  woods;  peculiar 
to  or  characteristic  of  woods.     Abounding  in  woods. 

Woodwork,  n.  Carpentry.  "The  house  must  be  nearly 
finished,  the  woodwork  is  all  done." 

Wool,  v.  To  pull  the  hair  oi\  in  sport  or  anger;  rumple  or 
towsel  the  hair  of;  to  beat.  "  I'll  ivool  you  when  I  get  my 
hands  on  you." 

Wool-cards,  n.  pi.  A  small  hand  machine  about  a  foot  long 
and  four  or  five  inches  wide,  made  of  bent  wire  teeth  for 
carding  wool  into  rolls  for  spinning  into  yarn. 

Wool-dyed,  adj.  Dyed  in  the  wool,  that  is,  before  spinning 
or  weaving:  as,  icool-dyed  cloth. 

Wool-fell,  n.     A  sheepskin  with  the  wool  on  it. 

Wool-gathering,  ;/.  The  indulgence  of  idle  fancies  or  to  any 
foolish  or  fruitless  pursuit. 

Woolly,  adj.  Consisting  of  wool;  fleecy.  Resembling  wool; 
having  the  appearance  of  wool:  as,  woolly  hair. 


Word— Wormed.  429 

Word,  n.  To  praise  or  blame;  to  speak  well  or  ill  of.  "I 
never  heard  anybody  give  him  a  bad  word. 

Words,  n.  Dispute;  disagreement.  "  They  had  already  had 
some  words  about  it." 

Wore,/fl/-/.     Of  wear.      "Yes,  he's  old  and  wore  out  now." 

Work,  v.  To  express  the  action  of  purgative  medicine.  "  The 
oil  "worked  four  times. ' ' 

Work,  v.  To  ferment,  as  liquors.  To  operate  on,  as  a  purga- 
tive or  other  drug;  purge.  (2)  To  ply  one's  trade,  calling, 
vocation,  or  business.  To  exact  labour  or  service  from; 
keep  busy  or  employed:  as,  "He  works  his  horses  too 
hard." 

Workaday,  n.  Working  day;  relating  to  workdays;  plodding; 
toiling.      Workyday. 

Work-bag,  n.  A  small  bag  of  some  woven  material,  formerly 
carried  by  women,  and  used  to  hold  their  needle-work. 
The  term  is  often  used  for  the  reticule. 

Work-basket,  n.  A  basket  used  by  women  either  to  hold  the 
implements  for  sewing,  as  needles,  thread,  scissors,  or  thim- 
ble; or  to  hold  partly  made  garments,  articles  needing 
repair,  etc. 

Workies,  n.  pi.  Working  people  distinguished  from  those 
who  do  not  have  to  work. 

Working,  n.     Fermentation:  as,  the  working  of  yeast. 

Working-man,  n.  A  labouring  man;  one  who  earns  his  living 
by  manual  labour. 

Work-steers,  n.  pi.  Steers  used  for  work,  as  hauling,  and 
other  farm  work,  and  not  for  beef  cattle. 

Worm-eaten,  p.  a.  Old,  worn-out,  or  worthless,  as  if  eaten 
by  worms. 

Wormed,  past  part.  Eaten  or  damaged  by  worms.  "The 
wood  is  wormed  by  being  so  long  in  the  water. ' ' 


430  Worm-fence — Wrack. 

Worm-fence,  ;/.     A  zigzag  fence  made  by  placing  the  ends  of 
the  rails  at  an  angle  upon  one  another;  a  snake-fence, 

Worm-hole,  n.  The  hole  or  track  made  by  a  worm,  as  in 
timber,  fruit,  etc. 

Worm-holed,  adj.      Perforated  with  worm-holes. 

Wormy,  adj.  Full  of  worms;  infested  or  affected  with  worms. 
(2)  Worm-like;    low;  mean;    debased;   grovelling;    earthy. 

'Worn-out,  adj.  Wearied;  exhausted,  as  with  toil.  Past; 
gone;  removed;  departed. 

Worn't,  v.     Was  not,  were  not.      "  They  worrit  at  church  to- 
day." 
Worrisome,  adj.     Causing  worry  or  annoyance;  troublesome. 

Worrum,  ;/.  A  worm.  "  I Vorrum  fence,"  a  fence  zigzag  made 
of  split-rails. 

Worry,  n.  Harrassing  anxiety,  solicitude  or  turmoil;  per- 
plexity arising  from  over-anxiety  or  petty  annoyances  and 
cares;  trouble:  as,  the  worries  of  housekeeping. 

Worry,  v.  To  tease;  trouble;  harrass  with  importunity  or 
with  care  and  anxiety;  plague;  bother;  vex;  persecute. 
(2)  To  worry  down,  to  swallow  or  put  down  by  a  strong 
effort  of  the  will. 

Worrying,/),  a.     Teasing;  troubling;  harrassing;  fatiguing. 

Worsen,  v.     To  grow  worse;  make  worse. 

Worser,//^/.     A  comparative  of  "worse. 

Wo'th,  adv.     For  worth.      "  He  isn't  wo'th  a  cent." 

Would,  v.     Always  used  in  a  sense  of  inclination,  will. 

Wozzen,  n.     Woozzen.     The  gullet. 

Wrack,  >i.  That  which  is  cast  ashore  by  waves.  Sea-weed 
cast  ashore.  (2)  The  destruction  of  a  ship  by  winds  or 
rocks  or  by  the  force  of  the  waves;  shipwreck.  (3)  Distruc- 
tion;   ruin. 

Wrack,  v.     To  destrov;  make  shipwreck  of;  wreck. 


Wranglesome — Wropper.  431 

Wranglesome,  adj.     Contentious;  quarrelsome. 

Wrastle,  v.  To  struggle,  as  two  persons  striving  to  throw 
each  other  to  the  ground.  (2)  To  deal,  as  with  a  trouble- 
some duty;  apply  one's  self  vigourously;  grapple. 

Wrathy,  adj.     Angry. 

Wrench,  n.  A  violent  twist  or  turn  given  to  something;  a 
pulling  awry;  a  sudden  twisting  out  of  shape,  place  or  rela- 
tion: as,  to  sprain  one's  foot  by  a  wrench. 

Wrench,  v.  To  injure  or  pain  by  a  twisting  action;  produce  a 
distorting  effect? in  or  upon;  distort;  sprain. 

Wretched,  adj.  Suffering  from  or  affected  by  extreme  misery 
or  distress;  deeply  afflicted;  miserable;  unhappy. 

Wriggle,  v.  To  move  sinuously;  twist  to  and  fro;  writhe; 
squirm;  wiggle. 

Wring,  v.  To  twist  out  of  place,  shape,  or  relation;  bend  or 
strain  tortuously  or  twistingly:  as,  to  wring  the  neck  of  a 
bird. 

Wring  and  twist,  v.     As  a  restless  child  in  bed. 

Wringing,  adj.  Saturated;  dripping  with  water,  so  that  it  may 
be  wrung  out:  as,  he  was  out  in  the  rain  and  came  in  wring- 
ing wet. 

Wrinkle,  n.  A  short,  pith  piece  of  information  or  advice;  a 
valuable  hint;  a  bit  of  usefull  knowledge  or  instruction;  a 
good  idea;  a  trick;  a  point;  a  notion;  a  device. 

Wrinkly,  adj.  Somewhat  wrinkled;  having  a  tendency  to  be 
wrinkled;  puckered;  creased. 

Wrisbuns,  n.  pi.     Wristbands  of  a  shirt. 

Writings,  n.  pi.      Legal  documents;  title  deeds  relating  to  land. 

Wrongheaded,  adj.  Characterized  by  or  due  to  perversity  of 
judgement;  obstinately  opinionated;    misguided;  stubborn. 

Wropper,  ;/.  Wrapper.  A  loose  gown  for  man  or  woman. 
"  Mommg-wropper. "  v 


432  "Wryneck — Yarn. 

Wryneck,  ;/.  A  twisted  or  distorted  neck;  a  deformity  in 
which  the  neck  is  drawn  to  one  side  and  twisted. 

Wt  =  weight,  n.     Often  used  for  pound. 

Wudget,  n.  A  wad;  pad;  bundle.  "  She  had  her  hair  done 
up  in  wudgets  of  paper." 

Wunk,  v.     Form  of  winked. 

Wunnut,  n.  Warnut.  The  black  walnut;  and  other  nuts  of 
the  same  family.     Wornut. 

Wush,  n.     A  wish. 

Wusser,  adj.  Comparative  of  worse.  "  He  is  wusser  than 
tother." 

Wust,  adj.      For  worst. 

Wuth,  n.     Worth.      "  How  much  is  the  horse  wuth  ?  " 

Y 

Yahoo,  n.  A  rough,  brutal,  uncouth  character.  (2)  A  green- 
horn; a  back-country  lout. 

Yaller-belly,  n.     A  small  fish;  a  " yaller pearch." 

Yallerhammer,  n.     A  yellowish  woodpecker.     Yucker. 

Yallow,  adj.      A  colour;  yellow.     Yaller. 

Yam,  n.     A  variety  of  sweet  potato. 

Yankeefied,  adj.  Having  the  appearance  or  manner  of  a 
Yankee;  characteristic  of  a  Yankee. 

Yap,  v.     To  yelp;  to  bark. 

Yarb,  n.  A  form  of  herb.  Yarb-tea.  made  of  catnip,  much 
used  for  colicky  babies. 

Yard,  n.     The  virile  member;  the  penis. 

Yard,  n.  A  piece  of  enclosed  ground  of  small  or  moderate 
size;  particularly,  a  piece  of  ground  enclosing  or  adjoining 
a  house  or  other  building,  or  enclosed  by  it. 

Yardstick,  n.     A  measuring-stick  of  the  exact  length  of  three 

feet. 
Yarn,  ;/.     Stout  woollen  thread  used  for  knitting.     (2)  A  story; 


Yarn— Yerk.  433 

a  tale;  often  implying  the  marvellous  or  untrue;  applied  to 
a  long  story,  with  allusion  to  spinning  yarn. 

Yarn,  v.     To  tell  stories;  to  spin  yarns. 

Yarn,  v.     A  form  of  earn.     Yearn. 

Yawn,  v.  To  open  the  mouth  wide  voluntarily.  Involuntarily, 
as  through  drowsiness  or  dullness;  gearpe. 

Yeaning,  pres.  part.  Bringing  forth  young,  as  a  sheep,  or  goat. 
"  Yeaning -time,"  lambing  time. 

Yea-nay,  adj.  A  yea-nay  chap  is  one  who  does  not  know  his 
own  mind. 

Yearling,  n.  A  young  beast  of  one  year  old  or  in  the  second 
year  of  its  age;  usually  applied  to  cattle  and  horses,  the 
males. 

Year,  n.     Ear  of  corn.     "  Shall  pay  three  barrels  of  yeares." 

Years,  n.  pi.  Age.  He  is  getting  in  years,  meaning  that  he  is 
far  advanced  in  age. 

Yelk,  n.     A  form  of  yolk. 

Yell,  n.  A  sharp,  loud  outcry;  a  scream  or  cry  suggestive  of 
horror,  distress,  agony  or  ferocity. 

Yell,  v.  To  cry  out  with  a  sharp,  loud  noise;  shriek;  cry  or 
scream  as  with  agony,  horror  or  ferocity. 

Yellow-belly,  n.     A  small,  yellow,  fresh-water  pearch. 

Yellow-jacket,  n.  Yallow -jacket,  a  hornet  having  the  body 
marked  with  yellow. 

Yelp,  v.  To  give  a  sharp,  shrill,  quick  cry,  like  a  wild  turkey- 
hen. 

Yelper,  n.  A  call  used  by  sportsmen  to  imitate  the  cry  of  a 
wild  turkey-hen. 

Yelping,  n.     The  cry  of  a  wild  turkey-hen,  or  an  imitation  of  it. 

Yer,  adv.     A  form  of  here. 

Yerb,  n.     A  form  of  herb. 

Yerk,  n.     A  sharp  or  sudden  pull;  a  jerk. 

28 


434  Yerk— Yulk. 

Yerk,  v.     To  pull  sharply  or  suddenly;  jerk;  move  with  a  jerk. 

Yuk. 
Yes'm,  For  " yes  madam." 
Yield,  n.     Produce.      "  There  has  been  a  good  yield  of  wheat 

this  year." 
Yistiddy,  «.'    A  form  of  yesterday.      Yistirday. 
Yoe,  7i.  ,   Yow;  yeo;  eow;  yowe;  a  female  sheep.      "Breeding 

yoes  &  a  Ramm." 

Yoe-necked,  adj.     Long  and  hollow  neck  like  a  yoe. 

Yoke,  7i.  A  pair;  couple;  said  of  things  united  by  some  link, 
especially  of  draught  animals:  as,  a  yoke  of  steers. 

Yoke,  7i.     A  form  of  yolk.      Yoke  of  an  egg. 

Yon,  adv.     That  or  those,  referring  to  an  object  at  a  distance; 

yo7ider.      "Km  he  goes." 
Yond,  adv.     In  or  at  that  more  or  less  distant  place.        "  Yo7id 

it  is." 
Yound,  adj.     ¥  ox  young. 

Young,  adj.  Junior.  Applied  to  the  younger  of  two  persons, 
especially  when  they  have  the  same  name:  as,  the  yoimg 
Mr.   Jones. 

Young-man,  n.     A  bachelor;  unmarried    man    irrespective    of 
age. 

Youngster,  7i.     A  young  person;  a  lad. 

Your  day,  /i.  Your  lifetime;  all  your  days:  as,  "It  will  last 
you  yotcr  day. ' ' 

Yourn,  pro7i.     Yours,  your  own. 

Youthsome,  adj.  Having  the  vigour,  freshness,  feelings, 
tastes,  or  appearance  of  youth ;  youthful,  young. 

Yowl,  v.     To  howl. 

Yuck,  v.     To  yerk;  to  jerk. 

Yucker,  71.    The  golden-winged  woodpecker.     Yellow-hammer. 

Yulk,  7i.     The  yellow  part  of  an  egg.     Yuck. 


Zed— Zuch.  435 

Z 

Zed,  n.     The  letter  Z,  also  called  izzard. 

Zip,  n.     The  sound  of  a  bullet  passing  through  the  air. 

Zip-coon,  n.     Name  for  a  raccoon. 

Zuch,  Zuch,  Zuch;   choog,  choog,  choog,  words  used  for  call- 
ing hogs. 

F  for  Fig, 

I  for  Jig, 

N  for  Nuckle-bones, 

I  for  John  the  Waterman, 

S  for  Sally  Jones. 


Some  Virginia  Names. 


15 


SPELT. 

CALLED. 

Jenkins, 

Jin'kins, 

Jordan, 

Jur'dn, 

Kean, 

Kane, 

Ker,  Kerr,  Carr, 

Keaar, 

Kirby, 

Kearby, 

Langhorne, 

Lang'on, 

Lawrence, 

Lar'ance, 

Mackintosh, 

Mack'entash, 

Malhcote, 

Mal'icut, 

Marsden, 

Mas'den, 

Marye, 

Maree, 

Maury, 

Mur'ry, 

Michaux, 

Mish'er, 

Montford,  Munford, 

Mum'ford, 

Morton, 

Mo'ton, 

Napier, 

Nap'per, 

Norsworthy, 

Naz'ary, 

Patrick, 

Part'rick, 

Perrott, 

Par'rot, 

Piggot, 

Pick'et, 

Presson, 

Pres'sy, 

Randolph, 

Ran'dal, 

Rochelle, 

Roach'el, 

Roper, 

Roo'per, 

Sandys, 

Sands, 

Sayer, 

Saw'yer, 

Sclater, 

Slaughter,  Slater 

Semple, 

Sarm'ple, 

Sewell,  Seawell, 

Sow'el, 

Sinclair, 

Sink'ler, 

Stegge, 

Stag, 

16 


Some  Virginia  Names. 


spelt. 
Sweeny, 

Taliaferro, 
Timberlake, 
Turlington, 
Tutwiler, 

Urquhart, 

Waltham, 

Warwick, 

Wilkinson, 

Wills, 

Womb  well, 

Woodward, 

Woolfolk, 

Wyatt, 

Yates, 
Yeardley, 


CALLED. 

Swin'ny, 

Tol'iver, 
Tim'berleg, 
Turn'ton, 
Toot'wiler, 

Urk'art, 

Wal'tum, 

War'rick, 

Wilker'son, 

Wells, 

Wom'ble, 

Wood'ard, 

Wool'fork, 

Wait, 

Yeates, 
Yard'ly. 


SOME  VIRGINIA  FOLK-SAYINGS. 


Accidents  will  happen  in  the  best  regulated  families. 

A  bird  dying  in  your  hand  will  give  you  the  palsy. 

A  chunk  of  fire  falling  on  the  hearth  is  a  sure  sign  that  a  stranger 


is  coming. 


A  creaking  door  never  falls. 

A  dog's  howl  is  a  sign  of  death. 

A  face  that  would  stop  a  clock;  that  is,  repellant. 

After  breakfast  walk  a  mile;  after  dinner  sit  awhile. 

A  feast  or  a  famine. 

A  good  run  is  better  than  a  bad  stand. 

A  handful  of  salt  will  put  out  the  fire  of  a  burning  chimney. 

A  lean  dog  for  a  long  chase. 

A  left-handed  person  owes  the  devil  a  day's  work. 

A  lick  and  a  promise  and  better  next  time.     Alluding  to  a  hasty 

wash  given  to  a  child,  dish,  etc. 
A  month  of  Sundays.     A  figure  for  a  very  long  time,  or  even 

eternity. 
A  nimble  sixpence  is  better  than  a  slow  shilling. 
A  nod's  as  good  as  a  wink  to  a  blind  horse. 
An  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure. 
Any  port  in  a  storm. 
A  person  made  mad  by  the  bite  of  a  mad-dog  was  smothered 

between  feather-beds  to  relieve  him  of  his  misery. 
A  person  who  never  stole  anything  has  a  lock  of  hair  growing 

in  the  palm  of  his  hand. 
A  potato  carried  in  the  pocket  constantly  will  cure  rheumatism. 

It  all  goes  into  the  potato  that  becomes  dry  and  hard. 
April  showers  bring  May  flowers. 

A  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss;  but  a  stagnant  pool  stinks. 
A  stitch  in  time  saves  nine. 

2 


18  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 

A  slice  from  a  cut  loaf  is  never  missed.  Usually  said  to  gloss 
over  a  breach  of  the  seventh  commandment. 

A  sore  on  the  tip  of  the  tongue  is  a  sign  that  you  have  told  a  lie. 

A  sleeping  foot  or  hand  relieved  by  crossing  with  the  finger 
wetted  in  the  mouth. 

A  still  winter's  night  with  clear  sky  and  twinkling  stars  a  sign 
of  heavy  frost. 

A  snake  never  dies  till  sundown. 

A  strip  of  red  flannel  worn  around  the  neck  cures  the  sorethroat. 

A  watched  pot  never  boils. 

A  whistling  woman  and  a  crowing  hen  never  came  to  any  good 
end. 

A  wild  bird  flying  in  at  the  window  is  a  sign  of  death. 

A  word  and  a  blow  and  the  blow  first.      Hasty  temper. 

All  on  one  side  like  a  jug-handle. 
•  /As  bald  as  a  coot. 

As  big  as  a  nimepence  chicken. 

As  big  as  I  don't  know  what. 

As  black  as  the  back,  (of  the  chimney);  as  my  hat. 

As  black  as  thunder. 

As  brazen  as  brass. 

As  bright  as  a  new  cent. 

As  clean  as  a  penny. 

As  clean  as  a  new  pin. 

As  clear  as  a  bell. 

As  clear  as  mud. 

As  cold  as  a  frog. 

As  cold  as  charity. 

As  common  as  dish-water  (as  dirt). 

As  crooked  as  a  dog's  hind  leg.  A  very  crooked  fence  rail  is 
mule  from  a  tree  that  grew  in  the  night;  and  was  so  crooked 
that  it  will  neither  lie  on  the  fence  nor  on  the  ground. 

As  crooked  as  a  ram's  horn. 

As  cross  as  two  sticks. 

As  cunning  as  a  fox. 

As  cute  as  the  devil. 

As  dark  as  a  dungeon. 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  19 

As  dead  as  a  herring. 

As  dead  as  a  nit.     A  nit  is  the  egg  of  a  louse  or  other  insect. 

As  deaf  as  a  post. 

As  deep  as  a  well. 

As  drunk  as  a  fiddler's  bitch. 

As  drunk  as  a  fool. 

As  drunk  as  a  lord. 

As  dry  as  a  bone. 

As  dry  as  a  stick. 

As  dull  as  a  hoe. 

As  easy  as  an  old  shoe.     Said  of  the  fit  of  anything,  or  of  any 

easy  temper. 
As  fat  as  a  match. 
As  flat  as  a  flounder. 
As  full  as  a  tick;  that  is,  the  insect. 
As  full  of  conceit  as  an  egg  is  of  meat. 
As  good  as  gold. 
As  gray  as  a  badger. 
As  gray  as  a  rat. 
As  hard  as  a  bullet. 
As  hard  as  a  flint. 
As  hard  as  a  rock. 
As  heavy  as  lead. 
As  hungry  as  a  hound. 
As  hungry  as  a  hunter. 
As  large  as  life  and  twice  as  natural. 
As  lazy  as  Hall's  dog,  that  lent  against  the  fence  to  bark. 
As  light  as  a  feather. 
As  lively  as  a  cricket. 
As  lively  as  a  two  year  old. 
As  lousy  as  a  hog. 

As  many  times  as  I've  fingers  and  toes. 
As  much  alike  as  two  peas. 
As  mute  as  a  mouse. 
As  old  as  Adam  ;  As  old  as  Methuselah. 
As  pale  as  death. 


/ 


20  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 

As  pale  as  a  ghost. 

As  plain  as  an  old  shoe. 

As  plain  as  a  pike-staff. 

As  plain  as  the  nose  on  a  man's  face. 

As  playful  as  a  kitten. 

As  pleased  as  a  basket  of  chips. 

As  pleased  as  Punch. 

As  pretty  as  a  picture. 

As  proud  as  a  dog  with  two  tails. 

As  ragged  as  a  buzzard. 

As  red  as  a  gobbler's  snout. 

As  rotten  as  a  pear. 

As  rough  as  a  bear's  backside  (a  — e.) 

As  rough  as  a  rasp. 

As  savage  as  a  bear. 

As  sick  as  a  dog,  (sick  at  the  stomach.) 

As  silly  as  a  goose. 

As  sound  as  a  dollar. 

As  sour  as  varge. 

As  stiff  as  a  poker:  applied  to  a  person. 

As  sure  as  fate,  or  death. 

As  sure  as  God  made  little  apples. 

As  sure  as  a  gun. 

As  sure  as  shooting. 

As  tall  as  a  May-pole. 

As  thick  as  hail. 

As  thick  as  mud. 

As  thick  as  three  in  a  bed. 

As  thin  as  a  lath. 

As  tight  as  a  drum. 

As  ugly  as  sin  and  nearly  as  agreeable. 

Ask  me  no  questions  I'll  tell  you  no  lies, 

Give  me  no  apples  I'll  make  you  no  pies. 
A  squitch-owl  hollering  near  the  house  is  a  sign  of  death. 
A  wounded  snake  does  not  die  till  sundown. 
At  midnight  on  Christmas  eve  the  cattle  will  be  found  on  their 

knees,  a  token  of  adoration. 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  21 

A  woollen  sock  when  taken  oft"  the  foot  at  night  and  wrapped 
around  the  neck  will  cure  sore  throat. 

Bad  luck  to  hear  a  hen  crow;  kill  her  at  once. 
/\Ba.d  news  travels  fast. 
/^Barking  up  the  wrong  tree. 

Bastings  in  a  garment  are  a  sign  that  it  has  not  been  paid  for. 

Be  as  quick  as  you  can,  and  if  you  fall  down,  don't  stop  to  get 
up,  but  roll. 

Beech  trees  are  never  struck  by  lightning. 

Beef  and  pullet  (pull  it)  when  the  beef  is  tough. 

Before  the  cat  can  lick  behind  her  ear. 

Best  in  the  world. 

Bitter  as  sut. 
j><Black  as  a  crow. 

Black  as  jet. 
^Bold  as  a  lion, 
freaking  a  looking-glass  is  a  sign  of  seven  years  trouble. 

-Brisk  as  a  bee. 

Busy  as  a  hen  with  one  chicken. 

By  degrees  as  lawyers  go  to  Heaven. 

By  keeping  your  tongue  out  of  the  place  where  a  tooth  has  been 
pulled  a  gold  tooth  will  grow  there. 

)\  Catch  as  catch  can. 

Cats  will  suck  children's  breath  and  kill  them. 
/Cattle  low  and  kneel  at  midnight  on  Christmas  Eve. 
V  Changeable  as  the  wind. 
Cheating  works  never  thrive. 
Circle  around  the  moon  a  sign  of  rain,  as  many  days  off  as  there 

are  stars  in  the  circle. 
Children  are  told  not  to  break  open  a  hot  biscuit  and  not  cut  it 

with  a  knife  as  it  was  piercing  Christ's  side. 
Chickens  come  home  to  roost. 
Circle  around  the  sun  a  sign  of  rain. 

Clocks  are  stopped  at  the  death  of  a  person,  and  not  started  till 
the  body  leaves  the  house. 


22  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 

Cold  as  clay. 

Cold  as  a  frog. 

Cold  as  a  stone. 

Come  day,  go  day,  God  send  Sunday. 
J>Vome  easy,  go  easy. 
XCool  as  a  cucumber. 

Cramps  in  the  arms  or  legs  are  cured  by  tying  a  strip  of  eelskin 
around  the  wrists  or  ankles. 

Croaking  of  a  rain  crow  a  sign  ol  rain. 

Croaking  of  a  tree-frog  a  sign  of  rain. 

Curses,  like  chickens,  come  home  to  roost. 

Cut  dogs  and  spayed  bitches  see  spirits. 

Cut  your  coat  according  to  your  cloth. 

J^T)ark  as  night. 
J^Dark  as  pitch. 

>QZ)ead  as  a  narnmer;  as  a  hatchet. 
Deaf  as  a  beagle. 
Dogs  see  sperits. 
Do  not  let  the  birds  put  the  combings  of  your  hair  in  their  nests; 

it  will  make  you  have  the  headache. 
Do  not  let  any  one  sweep  under  your  feet,  it  will  sweep  away  all 

your  friends. 
Don't  holler  till  you  are  out  of  the  woods. 
Do  not  speak  of  a  rope  in  the  house  of  a  man  whose  father  was 

hanged. 
Drawn  teeth  should  be  burnt. 
Don't  kick  before  you  are  spurred. 
y        Drunk  as  .1  boited  owl. 
1  )rv  as  a  powder-horn. 
Drv  weather  when  the  moon  hangs  on  her  back. 

Enough  to  make  a  dog  laugh. 

Every  dog  has  his  day. 

Every  little  helps  as  the  old  woman  said  when  she  made  water 

in  the  sea.      Her  husband  was  a  sailor. 
Every  tub  must  stand  on  its  own  bottom. 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  23 

Exchange  is  no  robbery. 

<</XFamiliarity  breeds  contempt. 
Fat  as  butter. 

Fat  as  a  match.      Fat  as  mud. 
Fight  for  what's  in  sight. 
Fine  as  dollar  cotton. 
Firm  as  a  rock. 

Fisherman's  luck,  wet  backside,  and  a  hungry  gut. 
^Flat  as  a  pancake. 

Flying  cobwebs  a  sign  of  rain. 

Fortunes  can  be  told  by  coffee-grounds  left  in  the  cup. 

Four  grains  of  corn  to  be  planted  in  the  hill: 

One  for  the  blackbird,  one  for  the  crow. 

One  for  the  cutworm,  and  one  to  grow. 

^V^'esh  as  a  daisy. 

Fried  rat  said  to  be  a  cure  for  children  who  wet  their  beds. 
Fresh  as  a  rose. 

Gay  as  a  butterfly. 
\Gay  as  a  lark. 

Go  farther  and  fare  worse. 
^4}oes  in  one  ear  and  out  the  other. 

Green  as  a  leek. 

Grows  down  like  a  cow's  tail. 

Habit  is  second  nature. 

Half  a  loaf  is  better  than  no  bread. 

Hands  and  feet  gone  to  sleep  are  cured  by  wetting  the  finger  in 

the  mouth  and  crossing  the  afflicted  member. 
Hang  a  dead  snake  on  a  bush  will  make  it  rain. 
Happy  as  a  clam  at  high  water. 
Happy  as  a  lord, 
s^ard  as  nails. 
Hard  enough  to  knock  a  bull  down. 
Has  a  bridge  built  over  his  nose. 
He  has  a  head,  so  has  a  pin. 


y 


n  <- —     r  -  >^ 

1 

24  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 

He  doesn't  know  where  his  behind  hangs.     Said  of  a  very  proud 

person. 
He  knows  where  the  shoe  pinches. 
He'll  take  anything  that  isn't  too  hot  to  hold  or  too  heavy  to 

carry. 
He  furnished  the  stick  to  break  his  own  head. 
He  has  found  a  mare's  nest,  and  is  laughing  at  the  eggs. 
He  had  hardly  gotten  warm  in  the  nest  before  he  had  to  go. 
He  looks  like  a  motherless  colt  with  his  lip  hanging. 
Help  to  salt,  help  to  sorrow. 
He  must  have  been  fed  with  a  shovel.     Alluding  to  one  with  a 

wide  mouth. 
He's  got  a  head  and  so  has  a  pin. 
He  has  more  than  nits  and  lice  in  his  head. 
He  was  born  tired.     Said  of  a  lazy  person. 
He  will -have  the  bag  to  hold. 

He  would  skin  a  louse  for  his  hide  and  tallow.     Of  a  stingy  per- 
son. 
Hew  to  the  line,  let  the  chips  fall  where  they  will. 
He'll  never  make  old  bones.     Spoken  of  a  sickly  child,  youth 

or  young  man. 
His  father  will  never  be  dead  as  long  as  he  lives.     Said  of  a  son 

who  closely  resembles  his  father  in  looks  and  ways. 
He  is  eating  his  white  bread  now.     Said  of  a  person  living  at 

his  ease  and  comfort,  whose  fortune  may  be  worse  later. 
Hogs  see  the  wind. 
Hogs,  when   swimming,  are  said  to  cut  their  throats  with  the 

hoofs  of  their  forefeet. 

In  burying  or  laving  out  the  dead,  the  feet  must  always  be  to 

the  east,  the  head  to  the  west. 
If  a  death-watch  is  heard  ticking  it  is  a  sign  of  death. 
If  a  stick  catches  in  the  dress  while  walking,  it  is  the  sign  of  a 

beau.      If  it  falls  off  of  itself  he  will  leave  you.      If  you  have 

to  pull  it  off  it  is  a  better  sign. 
If  ants  build  up  sand  around  their  holes  it  is  a  sign  of  rain. 
If  anyone  brings  a  hoe  or  axe  into  the  house  on  his  shoulder,  it 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  25 

is  bad  luck;  to  do  away  with  it,  you  must  walk  out  back- 
wards with  the  tool  still  on  your  shoulder. 
11  a  rooster  flies  on  a  fence  while  it  is  raining,  and  crows,  it  is  a 

sure  sign  that  it  will  clear  off. 
If  it  rains  on  the  15th  of  July,  it  will  rain  every  day  in  dog  days. 
If  it  rains  while  the  sun  is  shining  out  it  is  a  sign  that  the  devil 

is  whipping  his  wife. 
If  hens  eat  snow  it  will  stop  them  from  laying. 
If  on  arising  from  a  chair,  it  falls  over,  the  person  causing  the 

accident  will  not  marry  for  twelve  months. 
If  sea-birds  fly  near  the  land,  it  is  a  si^jtt  of  a  storm. 
If  swallows  fly  lower  than  usual,  skimming  the  ground,  it  is  a 

sign  of  rain. 
/QT  you  dig  where  the  end  of  a  rainbow  touches  the  ground  you'll 

find  a  bag  of  gold. 
If  your  foot  itches  you'll  walk  on  strange  ground. 
ylf  your  nose  itches  somebody  is  coming;  right  side  a  man,  left 

side  a  woman. 
Jx$f  your  right  ear  burns  somebody  is  "  talking  good  "  about  you; 

if  the  left  ear  burns  somebody  is  "  talking  bad"  about  you; 

wet  your  finger  and  cross  the  ear  that  burns. 
If  your  right  hand  itches  you  are  going  to  shake  hands  with 

somebody;  if  your  left  hand   itches  you  are  going  to  get 

money. 
If  your  shoe  comes  untied  somebody  is  thinking  about  you. 
If  you  see  the  moon  over  your  right  shoulder,  good  luck;  over 

the  left,  bad  luck. 
If  you  see  the  moon  through  the  trees,  bad  luck;  if  clear,  good 

^Tf£J   !UCk"  -  rjf 

If   von  sing  before  breakfast  you'll  cry  before  night. 

If  you  sneeze  with  food  in  your  mouth  it  is  a  sign  of  death. 

If  you  stand  with   your  back   too   near  the  fire  it  will   melt  the 

marrow  in  your  backbone  and  kill  you. 
[f  you   step  over  a  mop-or  broom-handle  it  is  a  sign  that  you 

will  never  be  married. 
If  you  try  to  burn  the  combings  of  your  hair  and  they  do  not 

blaze  it  is  a  sign  of  sickness. 


26  Some  Virginia  Folk-Savings. 

If  you  want  good  luck,  always  carry  about  with  you  a  rabbit's 

left  hind  foot. 
If's  a  long  letter.     F's  a  long  letter.     Ef. 
If  scissors  fall  and  stick  up  in  the  floor  it  is  a  sign  that  somebody 

is  coming. 
If  two  people  look  in  a  glass  at  once,  the  younger  will  die  within 

a  year. 
If  two  spoons  are  in  the  same  cup  of  tea  or  coffee  as  it  is  handed, 

it  is  a  sign  of  marriage. 
If  you  find  a  pin  on  the  floor  with  the  head  towards  you,  good 

luck;  point,  bad  luck. 
If  you  give  a  dog  a  bad  name  you  had  just  as  well  hang  him. 
If  you  see  a  pin  and  let  it  lie,  you'll  be  sure  to  want  it  before 

you  die. 
If  you  want  to  catch  the  calf  give  a  nubbin  to  the  cow. 
If  you  shiver,  someone  is  walking  on  your  grave. 
In  a  drouth  all  signs  fail. 
Nfii  two  shakes  of  a  sheep's  tail. 
In  an  eclipse  the  sun  and  moon  jump  over  each  other. 
In  an  eagle's  nest  will  be  found  a  loadstone. 
It  always  clears  off  in  time  to  put  up  the  fowls  before  night. 
It's  all  moonshine. 
It's  a  different  breed  of  dogs. 
It's  a  long  lane  that  has  no  turning. 
It's  an  ill  bird  that  fouls  its  own  nest. 
Adit's  as  broad  as  it's  long. 

It's  bad  luck  to   carry  fire  to   fire;   if  you  carry  fire   from    one 

room  to  another,  spit  on  it. 
It's  bad  luck   to  plant  gourd  seeds;   they  should  be  thrown  at 

random  to  come  up. 
It  is  bad  luck  to  let  a  child  see  it's  face  in  a  looking-glass  before 

it  is  a  year  old. 
It  is  bad  luck  to  burn  sassafras  wood. 
It  blows  great  guns. 
It  is  better  to  be  at  the  end  of  a  feast  than  the  beginning  of  a 

hay. 
X  It  never  rains  without  it  pours. 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  27 

/\It's  neither  here  nor  there. 

It's  no  sign  of  a  duck's  nest  seeing  a  drake  sitting  on  the  fence. 
It's  not  the  worth  of  a  thing  but  the  want  of  it  that  makes  its 
value. 

Jaybirds  go  to  Hell  every  Friday  with  a  grain  of  corn. 
Joy  go  with  you;  you'll  leave  peace  behind  you. 


Keei 


een  as  a  whistle. 


Keen  as  a  razor. 
><Kill  two  birds  with  one  stone. 
Kissing  goes  by  favours. 

>4.ady-bug,  lady-bug,  fly  away  home,  your  house  is  on  fire  and 
your  children  will  burn. 

Larovers  to  catch  meddlers. 
^M^augh  on  the  wrong  side  of  your  mouth,  that  is,  cry. 
XJ^east  said,  soonest  mended. 

Light  nut  crop  a  sign  of  a  mild  winter. 
^Like  a  bump  on  a  log. 

Like  a  cooper  around  a  cask. 

Like  a  dove  builds  her  nest,  a  stick  at  a  time. 

Like  a  green  bay-tree:  said  of  a  person  who  is  in  a  good  flourish- 
ing condition. 

Like  a  hen  on  a  hot  griddle. 

Like  a  jug-handle,  all  on  one  side. 

Like  a  pea  on  a  hot  shovel. 

Like  darting  straws  against  a  nor' wester. 

Like  the  Dutchman's  anchor,  at  home,  when  he  was  on  a  voyage 
and  wanted  it. 

Like  the  old  sow,  you  have  to  pull  her  ears  off  to  get  her  to  the 
wash  and  pull  her  tail  off  to  get  her  away. 

Like  the  old  woman's  pig,  little  and  old. 

Like  the  little  boy  that  fell  down  the  chimney. 

Live  and  learn,  die  and  forget  it  all. 

Lively  as  a  kitten. 

Long  looked  for  come  at  last. 

Looks  like  the  last  of  pea-time. 


- 


28  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 


M; 


fake  both  ends  meet.      Make  buckle  and  tongue  meet. 
/Make  the  best  of  a'bad  bargain. 
Make  every  edge  cut. 
\Mad  as  a  March  hare. 
Made  of  money  and  stuffed  with  the  same. 
Many  men,  many  minds. 
XMarch  comes  in  like  a  lamb  and  goes  out  like  a  lion. 
Mares'  tails  a  sign  of  wind. 
Meek  as  Moses. 
Merry  as  a  cricket. 

Misery  makes  us  acquainted  with  strange  bed-fellows. 
Moles  were  people  too  proud  to  walk  on  the  ground,  and  were 

made  to  go  under  it. 
Money  makes  the  mare  go. 
More  you  cry  the  less  you  p — s.     Said  to  children  that  cry  too 

much. 
More  rogue  than  fool. 
Muddy  as  a  duck-puddle. 
Must  not  cut  a  baby's  finger  nails  before  it  is  a  year  old;  'twill 

make  it  steal. 
My  fingers  are  all  thumbs.     Of  a  clumsy  person. 

Naught  is  never  in  danger. 
/y*Ieat  as  a  pin. 

^Needles  and  pins,  when  a  man  marries  his  trouble  begins. 
Neither  sick  nor  sorry. 

Never  comb  your  head  at  night;  it  will  make  you  forgetfull. 
Never  cross  a  funeral  or  count  the  followers. 
Never  mind  the  weather  if  the  wind  don't  blow. 
Never  plant  in  the  dark  of  the  moon;  do  not  kill  in  the  dark  of 

the  moon,  the  meat  will  spoil. 
Never  use  water  in  a  basin  that   any  one  else  has  washed  in, 

without  making  a  cross  over  it. 
Ninety-nine  pounds  is  an  old  hag's  weight. 
No  more  alike  than  chalk's  like  cheese. 
None  of  your  tricks  on  travellers. 
Not  worth  a  tinker's  ru^-s. 


:cu 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Savings.  29 

Nosebleed  remedied  by  putting  a  large  key  or  a  bunch  of  keys 

down  the  back. 
Nosebleed  stopped  by  wearing  a  string  of   blood-stone  beads 

around  the  neck. 
Not  enough  to  physic  a  snipe. 
Not  worth  hell-room. 

J>01d  as  the  hills. 

Old  hares  get  fat  in  frosty  weather. 

On  the  water  when  the  land  looms  it  is  a  sign  of  wind  from  that 
quarter. 
•^AjQnce  bitten  twice  shy. 

One  is  as  deep  in  the  mud  as  the  other  in  the  mire. 
One-half  of  the  world  knows  not  how  the  other  half  live. 
One  horse  is  allowed  to  eat  the  grass  and  the  other  is  not  allowed 
to  look  over  the  fence. 
/^3ne  man's  meat  is  another  man's  poison. 
Opportunity  makes  the  thief. 
Out  of  hoo;  out  of  line;  out  of  square. 
Out  of  his  seven  senses. 
./XDut  of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire. 
Over  the  left  shoulder. 

Oysters  are  said  to  be  good  only  in  the  months  in  which  there 
is  an  r. 

Passing  the  leg  over  the  head  of  a  child  will  stop  its  growth. 

People  die  as  the  tide  goes  out,  is  a  belief  of  dwellers  on  the 
water. 

Pick  your  flint  and  try  again. 
^M^oor  as  a  church  mouse. 

Poor  as  Job's  turkey. 
J>Q ot  calling  kettle  black. 

Pride  is  never  too  hot  nor  too  cold. 

Promises  like  piecrusts  are  made  to  be  broken. 

Proud  as  a  dog  with  two  tails. 
^>roud  as  a  peacock. 

Pull  the  string,  the  latch  will  fly. 

Put  a  plaster  over  your  mouth. 


30  Some  Virginia  Folk-Savings. 

Put  a  spider  in  his  dumpling. 

NQuick  as  lightning. 
Quick  as  thought. 

Rain  falling  on  a  new-made  grave  is  a  good  sign. 
^Regular  as  clock-work. 
Right  as  tribet. 

Ring-streaked  and  speckle,  like  Jacob's  cattle. 
Ringing  in  the  ears:  right  ear,  good  news;  left  ear,  bad. 
Robins  are  not  to  be  troubled  as  they  covered  the  Babes  in  the 
Woods  with  leaves. 
X^-cmie  was  not  built  in  one  day. 
Root  hog  or  die. 

Rope-yarn  worn  around  the  wrists  and  ankles  for  rheumatism 

and  cramp. 
Rough  as  a  nutmeg  grater. 
Rusty  as  an  anchor. 

Salt  as  a  herring. 

Salt  is  given  to  cattle,  sheep  and  horses. 
Salt  makes  mortar  sweat. 
Scarce  as  hen's  teeth. 
Screaming  of  peacocks  a  sign  of  rain. 
/*$ense  enough  to  come  in  out  of  the  rain. 
Sharp  as  a  needle.  •■■(l- 

Sheets  and  white  spreads  are  put  over  everything  in  the  room, 

over  the  pictures,  looking-glass  and  clock,  in  presence  of  a 

dead  body. 
She  knows  what's  what. 

Short   md  sweet  like  a  roasted  maggot;  donkey's  gallop. 
Shut  the  stable-door  after  the  horse  is  gone.   Jb~* 
Shy  as  a  fawn.  ■*•*■ 

Silence  gives  consent;  when  one  does  not  object  it  is  taken  for 

granted  he  assents. 
Six  of  one,  and  half  dozen  to  the  other. 
Slippery  as  an  eel. 
Slow  as  a  coach. 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  31 

Sly  as  a  fox. 
Xl  Small  pitchers  have  large  ears. 

Sneezing  three  times  in  succession  is  sign  of  a  stranger  coming. 

Soap  was  always  stirred  one  way,  from  right  to  left,  never  "  back- 
wards," as  it  would  not  "turn." 
\$oft  as  silk. 

Soft  words  butter  no  parsnips. 

Soon  ripe,  soon  rotten. 

Sound  as  a  bell. 

Stand  by  the  rack,  fodder,  or  no  fodder. 

Still  as  a  mouse. 

Straight  as  an  arrow. 

Straight  as  a  line. 

>Straight  off  the  reel. 
\f  Strike  while  the  iron  is  hot. 

Sty  to  be  relieve'd  by  rubbing  with  a  gold  ring. 

Sue  a  beggar  and  get  a  louse. 

Surly  as  a  bear. 

Stumbling  on  the  sidewalk  is  a  bad  sign;  to  stumble  going  up- 
stairs a  good  one. 

Stupid  as  an  owl. 

Sut  falling  down  the  chimney  a  sign  of  rain. 

Swap  the  devil  for  the  witch. 
^Sweet  as  honey. 

Sweet  as  a  nut. 

Talk  about  the  devil  his  imps  will  appear. 
Teach  your  granny  to  suck  eggs. 
Tender  as  a  chicken. 
Thank' e  starves  the  cat. 
That  cock  wont  fight. 
^XThat  will  be  a  feather  in  his  cap. 
That  will  be  a  fire  when  it  burns,  as  the  fox  said. 
That  won't  hold  water. 
That's  a  rime  if  you  take  it  in  time. 
The  best  of  the  bunch. 


32  Some  Virginia  Folk-Savings. 

The  clock  is  stopped  when  a  member  of  the  household  dies,  and 

started  again  after  the  funeral. 
7vThe  darkest  hour  is  before  the  dawn. 

The  heart  of  a  hot  roasted  onion  put  in  the  ear  for  earache. 
The  merrythought  of  a  fowl,   if  pulled  apart  by  two   persons, 

marriage  will  come  first  to  the  one  having  the  longest  piece. 

If  put  over  the  door,  the  person  who  first  comes  under  will 

be  the  bride  or  bridegroom  elect. 
The  new  moon  lying  on  her  back  is  a  sign  of  a  rainy  month. 
The  sight  of  you  is  good  for  sore  eyes. 
There  is  catching  before  hanging. 

The  size  of  a  cent's  worth  of  soap  after  a  hard  week's  washing. 
Thin  as  a  wafer. 
Thin  as  a  weasel. 

Through  the  woods  and  pick  up  a  crook  stick  at  last. 
Thunder  turns  milk  sour,  and  addles  setting-eggs. 
Timid  as  a  hare. 

Tip  from  taw  is  as  good  as  the  law. 
Tired  as  a  dog. 

Tit  for  tat.     You  kill  my  dog,  I'll  kill  your  cat. 
To  be  down  in  the  mouth. 
To  be  put  to  one's  trumps. 
To  be  struck  all  of  a  heap. 
aTo  be  the  very  spit  of  his  father. 
^To  be  worth  a  mint  of  money. 
To  bite  off  more  than  you  can  chaw. 
\To  blow   up  our  sky  high. 

To  break  a  looking-glass  is  seven  years  of  trouble. 
To  cut  off  your  nose  to  spite  your  face. 
To  fall  between  two  Stools. 
To  find  a  horseshoe  is  good  luck;  it  should  be  nailed  over  the 

outside  door,  with  the  heels  up,  for  good  luck. 
To  go  from  post  to  pillar. 
To  grin  like  a  Cheshire  cat. 
To  make  a  young  cow  gentle  and  a  good  milch-cow,  pour  the 

beeslings  on  her  rump;  if  you  let  the  milk  fall  on  the  ground 

she  will  dry  up. 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  33 

■KTo  put  up  an  umbrella  in  the  house  will  bring  bad  luck. 
^To  spill  salt  is  bad  luck;  to  do  away  with  it  throw  a  pinch  over 
your  left  shoulder. 

To  come  off  with  a  whole  skin. 

To  come  off  with  flying  colors. 

To  draw  in  one's  horns. 

To  draw  the  long  bow. 

To  drink  like  a  fish. 

To  feel  all-overish. 

To  get  more  kicks  than  half-pence. 

To  get  on  the  blind  side  of  anyone. 

To  get  used  to  a  thing  like  an  eel  to  skinning. 

To  have  a  rod  in  pickle, 
.^o  have  a  screw  loose. 
XTo  kill  with  kindness. 

To  leave  one  the  bag  to  hold. 

To  look  like  he  had  been  drawn  through  a  keyhole. 

To  look  two  ways  for  Sunday. 

Toothache  is  caused  by  a  worm  at  the  root  of  the  tooth;  the 
worm  may  be  seen  when  the  tooth  is  pulled  out. 

To  preach  over  one's  liquor. 

To  put  a  spoke  in  one's  wheel  is  to  afford  help  in  an  under- 
taking. 
/\To  put  two  and  two  together. 

To  ride  a  free  horse  to  death. 

To  spite  one's  belly  for  the  sake  of  one's  back. 

To  swear  like  a  trooper. 

To  take  the  wrong  sow  by  the  ear. 
vTo  take  to  one's  heels. 

To  take  up  the  cudgels  for  any  one. 

To  talk  the  leg  off  an  iron  pot. 

To  throw  a  thing  in  one's  teeth. 
>To  throw  cold  water  on  a  thing. 

To  throw  the  helve  after  the  hatchet. 

To  trim  one's  jacket. 

To  tumble  to  pieces.     To  give  birth  to  a  child. 

3 


34  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 

To  turn  up  the  eyes  like  a  duck  in  a  thunder-storm. 

To  turn  up  like  a  bad  penny. 

To  walk  like  a  cat  on  hot  bricks. 

To  warm  the  cockles  of  the  heart. 
)^Too  big  for  his  breeches. 

Too  much  for  one,  and  not  enough  for  two,  as  the   man  said 
about  the  turkey. 

Too  thick  to  thrive. 
>Couch  and  go. 
/Trying  to  pull  the  wool  over  one's  eyes. 

Turn  about  is  fair  play. 

Turpentine  a  remedy  for  fresh  wounds. 

Two  heads  are  better  than  one,  even  if  one  head  is  a  horse's. 

Two's  company,  three's  a  crowd. 

Up-a' daisy.      Addressed  to  a  child  when  lifting  it  from  the 
ground  after  a  fall. 

Warm  moon  when  she  hangs  far  to  the  south. 
Wash  together,  wipe  together,  fall  out  and  fight  together. 
"Waste  not,  want  not. 
Weak  as  a  cat. 
Weak  as  water. 

We  curchey  to  the  new  moon  when  we  first  see  it. 
We  turn  over  the  money  that  we  have  in  our  pocket  when  we 

first  see  the  new  moon,  so  as  to  have  more  before  it  changes. 
What  is  bred  in  the  bone  will  come  out  in  the  flesh. 
When  a  baby  smiles  in  its  sleep  the  angels  are  talking  to  it. 
When  a  cat  washes  her  face  it  is  going  to  rain. 
When  a  cat  turns  his  back  to  the  fire  it  is  a  sign  of  snow. 
When  a  clock  strikes  out  of  time  it  is  a  bad  sign. 
When  a  door  or  window  swells  so  as  to  be  hard  to  open  it  is  a 

sign  of  rain. 
When  a  jack-m' lantern  leads  you,  turn  your  pocket  wrongside 

out. 
When  animals  have  a  heavy  coat  of  hair  it  is  a  sign  of  a  hard 

winter, 


Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings.  35 

When  a  rooster  crows  with  his  head  in  the  door  somebody  is 

coming.     When  he  stands  in  the  door  looking  out  it  is  a 

sign  of  death. 
When  ducks  and  chickens  drink  they  hold  up  their  bills  to  thank 

God. 
When  one  shudders  it  is  a  sign  that  some  one  is  stepping  on  the 

ground  where  his  grave  will  be  dug. 
When  sut  burns  on  the  bottom  of  pots  and  kettles,  it  is  a  sign 

of  a  storm. 
When  the  bottom  of  your  foot  itches  it  is  a  sign  that  you  are 

going  to  walk  on  strange  ground. 
When  the  dogwood  is  white  fish  begin  to  bite. 
When  smoke  goes  straight  up  it  is  a  sign  of  good  weather. 
When  smoke  falls  to  the  ground  it  is  a  sign  of  rain. 
When  the  fire  "  treads  snow  "  a  sign  of  snowfall. 
When  the  moon  hangs  on  her  point  a  sign  of  wet  weather. 
When  the  wind's  in  the  east  it's  neither  good  for  man  nor  beast. 
When  drink's  in  wit's  out. 
When  wild  geese   fly  over   to  south,    a   sign    of  coming   cold 

weather. 
When  you  are  going  anywhere  and  have  to  go  back  for  some- 
thing forgotten,  make  a  cross  mark  on  the  ground  and  spit 

on  it. 
When  you  burn  through  I'll  get  warm. 
When  you  come  we'll  put  the  little  pot  in  the  big  one. 
When  you  see  the  new  moon  for  the  first  time  look  steadily  at 

her  and  turn  the  money  over  in  your  pocket,  you'll  get  more 

before  another  moon. 
Whipping  the  devil  around  the  stump. 
./XWhite  as  a  sheet. 

Who  would  keep  a  cow  when  he  can  get  milk  for  nothing. 

Wild  as  a  colt. 

Willfull  waste  makes  woeful  want. 

Will  neither  work  nor  hold  the  candle. 

Witches  plat  horses'  manes  for  their  stirrups,  and  ride  the  horses 

very  hard,  sometimes  to  death. 
With  half  an  eye. 


36  Some  Virginia  Folk-Sayings. 

Worse  and  worse  like  old  Beck's  prayers. 
Worse  than  the  third-day  ague  and  fever. 

Yellow  as  a  gourd — as  a  punkin. 

You  are  in  your  hornbook  yet. 

You  don't  catch  an  old  bird  with  chaff. 

You  can't  get  blood  out  of  a  turnip. 

You  have  to  go  away  from  home  to  hear  the  news. 

You'll  find  the  latch  string  on  the  outside. 

You  might  put  it  in  your  eye  and  see  none  the  worse  for  it. 

You  measure  your  neighbour's  corn  by  your  own  bushel. 

You  move  like  the  dead  lice  were  dropping  off  you. 

You  sit  like  a  mumchanee,  and  say  nothing. 

You  were  behind  the  door  when  beauty  was  given  out. 

You  were  not  behind  the  door  when  noses  were  given  out. 

You'll  be  well  before  you  are  twice  married. 

You'll  whistle  another  tune. 

You  will  die  when  your  time  comes,  and  not  before. 

You  are  a  nice  young  man  for  a  small  tea-party. 

Your  eyes  are  bigger  than  your  belly. 


WORD-BOOK. 


A.  Has  the  broad  sound;  and  is  used  before  many  participles: 
as,  a-doing,  a-coming,  a-going,  a-running. 

VA,  v.     For  have.      "He  would  a  been  five  years  old. "      "He 
should  a  done  it  long  ago." 

A,  prep.     Of.     What  kind  a  man;  by  no  manner  a  means. 

Ab,  ab's  and  ba  ba's.  The  beginnings  of  spelling  lessons; 
used  to  show  that  a  person  is  in  the  very  beginning  of  things, 
and  has  everything  to  learn.  "  Why  he  is  hardly  in  his  ab 
and  ad's,  and  ba  ba's  yet." 

Aaint,  v.     To  smear  with  fatty  matter.      Int.     An-oint. 
ABC,».     The  alphabet. 

A-B-C-book,  ;/.  Primer  used  for  teaching  children  their  let- 
ters. 

Abed,  adv.     In  bed.      "  He  is  still  abed." 

Abide,  v.     Endure;  suffer.      "  I  can't  abide  that  person." 

Able,  adj.     Wealthy.      "  He  is  an  able  man." 

\  About,  prep.  Near.  "It  is  about  twenty  miles  from  here." 
"  That  horse  is  worth  about  fifty  dollars." 

X'About,  adv.  To  be  about,  to  be  astir;  be  on  the  move;  be  at- 
tending to  one's  usual  duties;  be  about  after  a  spell  of  sick- 
ness. 

^Above-board,  adv.  Straight-forward;  open;  unconcealed. 
"  He  always  acts  above-board." 

Abscond,  v.     To  hide.      "I  immediately  absconded  myself." 

\/  Ache,  v.     To  express  intense  desire,  rather  than  pain.       '  I  am 
aching  to  get  back." 


86946 


38  Accommodate — After-night. 

Accommodate,:'.     To  supply  or  furnish.     "  The  tavern-keeper 
accommodated  us  very  well."      "  We  got  good  accommoda- 
tions  for  ourselves  and  our  horse." 
NAccount,  n.      Esteem;  reputation.     "  He  is  of  no  account." 

Achemy,   ;/.      Alcamy,   alcomy,   alkomy,   occomy.     A   mixed 
metal  used  for  utensils,  a  modification  of  brass. 

Ackerel.     A  man's  given  name. 

\    Acreage,  ;/.     The  extent  of  land,  or  acres  taken  collectively; 
as  the  acreage  in  corn. 

Adam's  ale,  >i.     Water. 
\   Adam's  apple,  n.     The  knot  on  the  windpipe  in  the  front  of 
the  neck. 

Adays,  adv.     By  day;  in  the  daytime. 

X^ Addle,  v.     To  confuse;  muddle:     "You  addle  my  brain  with 
your  noise." 

Addle,  adj.      Rotten;  as  an  addle  egg. 

Addled,  p.  p.      Eggs  are  said  to  be  addled  when  they  fail  to 
hatch  on  being  in  the  nest  the  proper  time. 

Addle-brain,  //.     A  stupid  person. 

Adoors,  adv.     At  doors;  at  the  door.      "  Out  a-doors." 

Adventurers,  n.  pi.      Name  given  to  all  traders  to  foreign  parts. 
"  Merchant  adventurers." 

Afeard,  v.     Afraid;  affected  with  fear.     A\%o,  feard:  as,  "Are 
you  feard  to  go  ?  " 

■Afire,  adj.     On  fire.     The  house  is  afire. 

Afore,  prep.      Before.      "  A  little  afore  day." 

After,  adv.      For  about.      "  That  hen  is  after  laying." 

Afterclap,  n.     An    unexpected  subsequent  event.     Something 
happening  after  an  affair  is  supposed  to  be  at  an  cm\. 

Afterlaine,  ? 

After-night,  n.     The  time  after  it  becomes  night. 


After-thought— Ail.  39 

y<A.fter-thought,  n.     A  later  or  second  thought. 

\Against,  prep.  In  resistance  to;  or  defense  from.  "They 
marched  against  the  Spaniards."  (2.)  Opposite.  ''Over 
against  a  point  called  Sandy  Point. ' ' 

VAge,  v.     To  grow  old.     "  He  ages;  he  grows  old."      "  He  be- 
gins to  age." 

Ageable,  adj.     Aged;  old.      "  They  are  right  ageable  people." 

^v^Agen,  adv.     For  again.     Another  time.     Agin. 

y^Agg,  v.     To  raise  a  quarrel.     Agging  means  exciting  people  to 
quarrel.      "  They  agged  him  on." 

"Aggravate,  v.     To    provoke;    irritate;    tease:     "  Aggravating 
fellow." 

Aggravation,  ;/.  Provocation;  irritation.  "  He  is  a  great  ag- 
gravation to  his  mother." 

Aglee,  adv.  All  aglee;  full  of  glee.  "The  children  were  all 
aglee  at  the  idea  of  going  to  the  play. ' ' 

Agnail,  n.  Angnail.  A  hangnail.  A  small  piece  of  partly 
separated  skin  at  the  root  of  a  nail  or  beside  it. 

Agog,  adv.  In  a  state  of  eager  desire;  astir;  ready;  highly  ex- 
cited by  curiosity.      "  They  were  all  agog  to  make  a  start." 

Agreeable,  adj.  Assenting  to  any  proposal.  Acquiescent; 
consenting. 

Aguecake,  n.  An  enlarged  and  hardened  spleen,  the  conse- 
quence of  intermittent  fever. 

Agwine,  part.     Going. 

Agy,  adj.     Aged;  old. 

Ahoo,  adv.  Ahuh.  Awry;  when  anything  is  out  of  perpen- 
dicular; or  lopsided;  or  a  wheel  runs  not  true,  it  is  said  to 
be  ahoo.  ' '  all  ahoo. ' ' 

Ail,  v.  To  affect  with  pain  or  uneasiness,  either  of  mind  or 
body;  used  in  relation  to  some  uneasiness  or  affection  whose 
cause  is  unknown;  as,  "  What  ails  the  man  ?  " 


X 


40  Ailing — Ail-along. 

,/ 

Ailing,  pr.  part.     To  feel  pain;  be  unwell;  as,  "He  is  ailing 

to-day." 
Ailments,   n.  pi.      Disorders;    diseases.      "She  is  full  of  ail- 


ments." 


V 


Ails,  n.  pi.      Pains. 

.Aim,  v.     To  design;  as,  "I  aim  to  do  so."      Intend. 

Ain't,  v.      Is  not;  am  not.      "  Bob  airi 7  coming  to-day." 

Aintment,  n.     Intment.      For  ointment. 

Air,  v.  To  dry  damp  clothes,  or  to  hang  out  clothes  that  have 
been  packed  away. 

Air,  v.  To  ventilate.  To  open,  the  doors  and  windows  to  let 
the  wind  blow  through. 

X/Airs,  n.  pi.     Affected  manner;  manifestation  of  pride  or  vanity; 
to  put  on  airs;  to  give  one's  self  airs. 

Aisle,  ;/.  The  passage  between  the  pews  in  a  church.  Men 
and  women  sat  on  different  sides  where  the  seats  were  on 
benches,  no  pews.  Women  sit  on  left  side  going  from  end 
door  towards  pulpit;  men  on  right-hand  side. 

Akimbo,  adj.  or  adv.  Said  of  the  arms  when  the  hands  are  on 
the  hips  and  the  elbows  are  bent  outward  at  an  acute  angle. 

AAkin,  adj.     Related  by  blood. 

Ale  wife,  n.     A  sort  of  fish.     Of  the  herring  tribe. 

Aliene,  v.     Alien,  to  transfer  or  convey  to  another.     Aliene. 

y(^\\g\\t,  v.     To  get  down  from  a  carriage.      Dismount  from  a 
horse. 

All ,  adj.     Every  one.      ' '  We  alt;  "    "  you  all. ' ' 

Ail-about,  adv.  Scattered;  in  disorder.  "  I  found  their  things 
scattered  ail-about  the  house. ' ' 

All-alone,  adv.     Quite  alone.      "  He  is  now  living  all-alone. " 

Ail-along,  adv.  Throughout;  continually;  from  the  beginning; 
onward. 


a: 

A, 


a: 
a: 
a: 

a: 
a: 


ai 


a: 

Al 


A 

a: 

Al 

)Ui 

Al 


Ail-but— All  the  go.  41 

-but,  adv.     Almost.      "  Have  patience  we  are  ail-but  there." 

-day,  adv.  Continuing  a  whole  day;  able  to  work  a  whole 
day  or  every  day;  steady;  strong. 

ey,  n.  A  choice  taw  or  playing  marble,  made  of  alabaster. 
' '  A  white  alley. ' ' 

ey,  ;/.  Walk-way  in  a  church  leading  from  the  door  towards 
the  chancel.      "  Buried  in  the  alley  near  her  Pew." 

-fours,  n.  To  go  on  the  hands  and  feet  like  an  animal.  To 
walk  on  all-fours. 

-fours,  ;/.      A  game  of  cards. 

-holler,  adv.  To  beat  one  all-hollow,  or  all-holler  is  to  beat 
him  thoroughly. 

-one,  adv.  All  the  same;  the  same  in  affect:  as,  "  It's  all- 
one  whether  you  do  or  not." 

-over,  adv.  In  every  part;  everywhere;  over  the  whole 
body.  "He  is  his  father  all-over;"  he  is  exactly  like  his 
father. 

-overish,  adj.     Feeling  confused  or  abashed. 

ow,  v.  To  say  in  the  sense  of  confirming  a  statement.  To 
give  as  an  opinion.      "  He  allowed  that  he'd  go." 

owance,  n.  Lowance.  Ration.  Quantity  of  food  given 
by  the  week. 

owance,  «.      License.     Book    "Published   hy  Allowance." 

right,  adj.  Quite  correct ;  quite  satisfactory ;  in  a  satisfactory 
manner  or  condition.  "  Are  you  ready  ?  ':  "  All  right  go 
ahead." 

sorts  and  sizes,  n.     Of  every  kind  or  pattern. 

sorts  of,  n.     Expert;  excellent;  acute;   capital;  expert  in 
many  ways. 

spice,  n.     Spice.      Fruit  of  a  tree  of  the  West  Indies. 

the  go,  n.     The  fashion.      "  Broad-brim  hats  are  all  the  go." 


42  All-to— An-end. 

All-to,  adv.       Excessively;  out  and    out.       "The    gray   horse 
horse  beat  the  bay  all-to  pieces." 

Almanick,  n.      For  almanack. 

Almost,  adv.     Nearly  all;  the  most  part.      "  Almost  all." 

Along,  prep.  To  get  along;  to  get  on;  make  one's  way  in  the 
world. 

Alongst,  prep.     Along;  through  or  by  the  length  of. 

Aloof,  prep.  At  a  distance,  intentionally  remaining  apart. 
"  He  keeps  himself  aloof 'from  all  that." 

Alter,  v.     To  castrate,  as  an  animal. 

"VA-many,  n.      Many  people;  a  multitute;   "  a-many  a  one;"  a 
great  many. 
Ambeer,  n.     Tobacco  juice;  the  spittle  produced  by  chewing 
tobacco. 

Amind,  v.  Aminded.  Disposed;  inclined  to.  "Any  person 
aniindcd  to  buy  it." 

Ammon,  n.     Almond. 

Amost,  adv.     Almost;  nearly  all;  for  the  most  part. 

Ampersand,  ;/.  The  character  &  put  at  the  end  of  the  A-B- 
C's  in  the  old  spelling-books.  And  per  se,  and.  &  by 
itself  arid. 

An',  n.      For  aunt.      "  It  belongs  to  an    Fanny." 

An,  conj.  Than.  "  I'd  rather  he'd  have  it  an  Tom."  "  This 
is  better  an  the  other. ' ' 

An,  conj.     For  and.     "An  so  lie  said." 

Ancient,;/.      Ensign;  banner;  flag  of  a  ship. 

Andirons,  n.  pi.  Metal  frames  for  holding  wood  on  an  open 
hearth. 

Anear,  prep.      Close  to;  near.      "  Don't  come  anear  me." 

An-end,  adv.  Onwards;  forwards;  to  go  an-oid,  to  go  straight 
on  without  delay  in  any  project. 


An-end — Apple  jack.  43 

An-end,  adv.     Upright;  not  lying  down;  on  one  end. 

Angry,  adj.      Inflamed,  as  a  sore.      Red. 

Anigh,  prep.     Nigh;  near.      "  Don't  go  anigh  him." 

Anights,  adv.      For  at  night.      "  When  we  go  out  anights." 

Another-gess,  adj.  Another-guess.  Another  kind;  of  a  dif- 
ferent sort.      "  He  is  another-gess  man." 

Answer,  v.  To  meet,  satisfy,  or  fulfill  one's  wishes,  expecta- 
tions or  requirements;  be  of  service;  with  for;  absolutely  to 
serve  the  purpose;  attain  the  end;  serve  or  do;  suit. 

\An't.     A  colloquial  contraction  of  are  n't,  are  not,  and   of  am 
not;  also  of  is  not;  also  written  a  in' '  t,  or  aint. 

Antics,  n.  Odd,  strange,  or  ludicrous  posture  or  gesture;  a 
caper. 

Antimonial  cupp,  n.  A  cup  made  of  glass  of  antimony,  to 
communicate  emetic  qualities  to  wine. 

Antony  over,  ;/.  "High  Antony."  A  game  of  ball  played 
by  two  parties  of  boys  on  opposite  sides  of  a  house,  over 
which  the  ball  is  thrown. 

Anudder,  adj.     Another;  one  more. 

Anxious  bench,  ;/.  The  bench  near  the  pulpit  where  persons 
go  who  wish  to  be  prayed  for.  ' '  He  has  long  been  on  the 
anxious  bench."      Uncertainty. 

Anyhow  and  everywhere,  adv.  By  any  means  and  every 
means. 


' 


vAnyways,  conj.      In  any  case;  at  any  rate;  at  all  events;  any- 
how. 

\A-one,  ;/.     A  individual;  one  person.      "  Not  a-one  of  you  will 
go."      "  Not  a-one  of  them." 

Apern,  ;/.      For  apron. 

Apollo,  n.     A  banquetting  room.     There  was  a  room  in  the  old 
Raleigh  Tavern,  in  Williamsburg,  called  "  the  Apollo." 

Apple  jack,  n.      Brandy  made  from  the  juice  of  apples. 


44  Apple-pie  order — A'ready. 

Apple-pie  order,  n.      Perfect  order. 

Apple-pummace,  n.  The  ground  apples  after  the  cider  has 
been  pressed  out. 

Apple-toddy,  ;/.  A  drink  made  with  apple  brandy,  water, 
sugar,  and  roasted  apples,  served  hot  or  cold. 

Apple-turn-over,  ;/.  A  pie  made  by  putting  stewed  apples  on 
one  half  of  a  thin,  circular  cake  of  dough  and  turning  the 
other  half  over  the  fruit. 

Apple-orchard,  n.  A  place  where  a  number  of  apple  trees 
grow. 

April- Fool's  day,  n.     The  first  day  of  April. 

XAprize,  v.     Same  as  appraise.     To  fix  the  value  of. 

A-projeckin',^a;Y.  Experimenting.  "  He  is  always  a-projec- 
kiri  with  something."      "  Projeckin'  round." 

Apron,  n.  The  caul  of  a  hog.  Also,  frill.  (2)  The  part  of  a 
crab's  shell  folded  under  the  body. 

Apron  strings,  ;/.  To  be  tied  to  a  woman's  apron  strings.  To 
be  unable  to  break  away  from  her  control  or  influence. 
Apun, 

Apt,  adv.      Likely.      "Apt  to  be  so." 

A-purpose,  adv.  Intentionally.  "  You  knocked  that  child  down 
a-purpose. 

Arbour,  n.  A  bower  formed  by  trees,  shrubs,  or  vines,  some- 
times dry  boughs,  trained  over  a  lattice  work,  so  as  to  make 
a  leafy  roof,  usually  provided  with  seats;  where  meetings 
are  held. 

Arbour-beans,  >i.  pi.  Lima  beans,  the  vines  of  which  run  on 
sticks. 

Arching,  adj.  Bending;  convex.  "  The  top  of  that  door  isn't 
arching  enough." 

V   A'ready,  adv.      Already;  at  this  time.      "  Have  you  came  back 

arcadr." 


Arfter — Assembly.  45 

Arfter,  adv.     For  after. 

Argufy,  v.     To  argue;  signify.     Argify. 

Arky,  adj.  For  archaic.  "  Came  out  of  the  ark. "  "  She  had 
on  a  very  arky  bonnet." 

Arm,  n.  The  end  of  the  axle-tree  that  goes  into  the  hub  of  the 
wheel. 

Armfull,  n.  As  much  as  can  be  carried  with  the  two  hands 
together.     A  large  woman  is  called  an  armfull. 

Arn,  v.     To  earn.      "  He  can't  am  his  living." 

Arnins,  n.  pi.     Earnings. 

Around,  prep.  About;  near:  as,  "He  waited  around  till  din- 
ner time." 

Arrand,  n.    Arrant.    Old  form  of  errand.    Tidings.    A  message. 

Arrant,  adj.     Notorious;  manifest;  an  arrant  thief.     Downright; 

thorough. 
Arter,  prep.     For  after. 
Arsle,  v.     To  arsle,  to  move  backwards;  to  back  out. 

\  Ary,  adj.     Any:  as,  "  I  haven't  seen  ary  one  of  them." 

Ashame,  v.  To  feel  shame;  be  ashamed.  "  He  is  ashame  to 
do  it. "      ''  Aint  you  ashame  to  serve  me  so." 

Ashcake,  ;/.     A  loaf  of  corn  bread  baked  in  the  ashes. 

Ashcat,  n.  A  child  that  plays  in  the  ashes,  dirtying  its  hands, 
face,  and  clothes. 

Ashy,  adj.      Angry. 

Asked,  past  part.      Invited;  as,  "  He  was  not  asked  to  the  wed- 
mg. 

Asleep,  adv.  Sails  are  asleep  when  filled  with  wind  so  as  not 
to  move.  (2)  A  top  is  asleep  when  turning  rapidly  on  the 
peg  without  wabbling. 

Aslew,  adv.     Askew;  diagonally;  one-sided. 

Assembly,  n.     A  subscription  ball. 


V 


46  Ass  over  head — Awork. 

Ass  over  head,  Head  over  heels;  topsy-turvy.  No  sound  of 
r  in  ass. 

As  soon  as,  adv.     Never  "so  soon  as." 

Ast,  v.     Asked.      "  I  ast  him  when  he  was  going." 

Astraddle,  adv.  Astride.  "He  was  sitting  astraddle  of  the 
fence. ' ' 

Aswarm,  adj.      In  a  swarm ;  swarming.     '  'Aswarm  with  folks. ' ' 

Aswim,  adj.     Swimming;  overflowing. 

Atom,  ?i.  Anything  very  small;  a  minute  quantity.  "  An  atom 
of  sense." 

A-tremble,  n.  Trembling  all  over;  in  a  state  of  general  agi- 
tation or  excitement.      "All  of  a-tremble.'' 

At  that.  A  phrase  used  to  define  more  nearly,  or  intensify 
something  already  said;  as,  "  He's  got  a  scolding  wife,  and 
an  ugly  one  at  that.'" 

Atturney,  n.     Attorney. 

Auf,  adv.      Off.      "  Christmas  is  a  long  way  auf." 

Aught,  n.      Ort;   naught;  a  cipher  o. 

Aunt,  n.  Word  used  by  white  children  when  speaking  to  or 
of  old  negro  women.      "Aunt  Judy,"  "Aunt  Sillah." 

Author,  n.  A  person  on  whose  authority  a  statement  is  made. 
"  Brown  is  my  author  for  what  I  tell  you." 

Authureskine,  n.      For  otter's  skin.      Old  Record. 

Awhile,  adv.     Foratime.     "  We  shall  have  no  frost  yet  awhile." 

Awkward,  adj.  Difficult;  not  easily  overcome.  "  It  was  an 
awkward  job." 

Awork,  v.  Small  animals  in  restless  activity  and  motion,  like 
ants  in  a  hill,  or  fish  in  a  net.  "  The  seine  was  awork  with 
fish." 

Awork,  v.  At  work;  in  a  state  of  action.  "The  bacon  was 
all  aivork  with  the  skippers." 


Ax — Backside.  47 

Ax,  v.     Ask. 

Axletree,  n.     A  wooden  beam  on  which  cart-wheels  turn. 


Baby,  n.     A  doll;  doll-baby. 

Baby-clouts,  n.  pi.  Baby-clothes.  Pieces  of  stuff  of  different 
colours  given  to  children  to  dress  their  dolls  with.  (2)  The 
clothes  used  for  swaddling  babies. 

Baby-rags,  >i.  pi.  Small  pieces  of  various  kinds  of  cloth  col- 
lected by  children  for  their  baby-clothes.      Dolls'  clothes. 

^  Babtize,  v.     For  baptize. 

Bachelors'  buttons,  ;/.     A  flower. 

Back,  v.     To  back  a  letter  is  to  direct. 

\/Back  and  forth,  adv.     Going  in  and  out,  or  to  and  fro,  back- 
wards and  forwards. " 

Back-band,  n.  A  chain  passing  over  the  saddle  of  a  cart-horse 
to  support  the  shafts.  Or  a  band  to  hold  up  the  traces  of 
plough  harness. 

Back-door-trots,  n.  pi.     The  diarrhoea. 

Back-hander,  n.     A  blow  with  the  back  of  the  open  hand;  a 

sarcastic  retort  or  snub. 
Back-house,  n.     A  necessary  house;  a  privy. 
Back-lane,  >i.     Any  street  or  lane  leading  from  the  highway. 

Back  lay,  n.  ?     Apparently  a  cast-iron  plate  put  at  the  back  of 

a  fireplace. 
Back-log,  n.     A  large  log  put  at  the  back  of  an  open  fireplace 

to  throw  out  the  heat. 

VBack  out,  v.     To  give  up.     "  He  tried  to  do  it  but  backed  out." 
(2)  To  get  out  of  a  difficulty.    "  He  backed  out  and  would' nt 
fight." 
Backside,  n.     Backyard;  the  yard  behind  the  house.     (2)  The 
buttocks. 


48  Back-seat — Bad-off. 

\&ack-seat,  v.     To  take  a  back-seat;  be  modest;  be  refused  a 
favour. 

Back-step,  n.  A  step  in  dancing;  by  placing  one  foot  behind 
the  other,  alternately. 

Backstitch,  v.  To  sew  with  stitches  overlapping  each  other. 
A  backstitch. 

Back  up.     To  get  the  back  up  is  to  provoke  or  be  provoked. 

Backward,  adj.  Timid;  bashful;  retiring  in  disposition;  mod- 
est, slow;  sluggish;  behind  in  progress.  (2)  Backward;  not 
up  in  learning;  a  boy  who  has  not  learned  at  school  what 
boys  of  his  age  ought  to  know,  is  said  to  be  backward. 

Backwards  and  forwards,  adv.  To  walk  in  a  direction  and 
return  on  one's  steps;  as,  "  He  walked  backwards  and  for- 
wards in  the  room  all  day  long." 

Backwater,  ;/.  Slackwater,  kept  back  by  something  in  the 
watercourse. 

Backway,  ;/.  The  yard  or  space  at  the  back  of  a  house.  '  He 
came  in  the  backway." 

Back  yonder,  adv.     A  long  time  ago.      "Away  back  yonder." 

Bacon,  n.      Hog's  flesh  salted  and  smoked. 

Bacon-rind,  n.  The  skin  of  bacon  that  becomes  hard  and  dry 
by  smoking. 

Bad-bowels,  ;/.      Diarrhoea. 

Bad  disorder,  n.     Venereal  disease. 

Badly,  adj.     Sickly;  poorly.      "  He  looks  badly." 

Bad  manager,  n.  A  person  who  wants  skill  and  industry  in 
the  management  of  his  affairs  is  called  a  "  bad  manager." 
"  B.  has  never  done  anything  on  his  farm,  he  has  always 
been  a  bad  manager." 

Badness,  n.     A  bad  name  given  to  children. 

Bad-off,  adv.  Badly  provided  for;  not  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances; poor;  in  want.  "Their  father  lost  all  his  money 
and  I'm  afraid  they  are  bad-off." 


Bad  place— Balky.  49 

Bad  place,  n.      Hell.     Children  are  warned  against  the  "bad 
place. ' ' 

Baffle,  v.  To  confound;  to  defeat  by  stratagem ;  perplex;  de- 
ceive. 

Bag,  n.  Udder  of  animals. 

(2)  A  "meal  bag''''  was  usually  made  of  a  salt-sack, 
and  held  three  bushels  of  meal  or  corn.  It  was 
used  to  send  the  "tolls"  to  mill  each  week. 

Bag,  v.  To  claim;  to  seize;  to  take  without  right.  '  He  bag- 
ged the  whole  lot. 

Bagging,  ;/.     Material  for  making  bags. 
-\Baggy,  adj.     Loose  hanging.     Baggy  trowsers. 
XBag  of  bones,  n.     A  very  lean  person  or  animal. 

Bagonet,  ;/.     Bayonet. 

Baile-piggon,  n.  Bail-piggin;  a  bucket  or  pail  for  bailing  water 
out  of  a  boat. 

Bait,  v.  Soft  crabs  are  used  for  bait  in  fishing;  the  act  of  catch- 
ing the  crabs  is  to  bait.  "/  baited  all  the  tide  and  caught 
two  dozen  crabs. ' ' 

Baker's  bread,  n.  Bread  made  by  a  baker,  as  distinguished 
from  "  home  made  bread." 

XBaker's  dozen,  n.     Thirteen. 

^Balance,  n.     Apparatus  for  weighing. 

(2)     A  remainder;  the  rest;  what  is  left  over.     The  balance 
of  a  meal. 

,  Baldfaced,  adj.      Having  a  white  face.     Said  of  animals. 

Baldface  hornet,  ;/.  A  hornet  so  called  because  it  has  a  whit- 
ish head. 

Balk,  n.  A  ridge;  a  ridge  left  unploughed  in  a  field,  or  be- 
tween two  fields. 

Balk,  n.     To  hinder;  to  disappoint. 

Balky,  adj.     Given  to  balking.      "A  balky  horse." 


50  Ball — Bannisters. 

Ball,  n.  The  ball  of  the  thumb;  the  palm  of  the  hand,  on  the 
fleshy  thumb-side. 

^.Ballance,  n-  The  rest  or  remainder  of  anything.  "I  rode 
with  him  all  the  ballance  of  the  way. ' ' 

Ballet,  n.     Ballad. 

Ballocks,  n.  pi.     Testicles.      Bollocks. 

Balm,  n.     A  sweet  smelling  herb,  melissa. 

Balm  of  Gilead,  n.     The  balsam  poplar. 

VBalmy,  adj.     Soft,  refreshing.      ' :'  A  balmy  day .' " 

Bamboo-briar,  n.  Bamboe-briars.  A  tall  thorny  climber. 
A  large  briar. 

Band,  n.  The  string  by  which  the  old  hand  spinning-wheel 
was  driven. 

t  Band-box,  ;/.  A  pasteboard  box  for  holding  bonnets,  caps, 
and  light  articles.  A  neat,  tidy  woman  was  said  ' '  to  look 
as  if  she  had  just  stepped  out  of  a  band-boxy 

Bandy,  n.  A  game  of  ball  played  with  crooked  sticks.  Bandy- 
ball. 

Bandy,  v.  To  move  about  from  one  place  to  another.  "  He 
goes  bandying  about  and  does  nothing." 

X.Bandy-legs,  n.  pi.     Crooked  legs;  bow-legs. 

'Bang,  v.  To  beat  as  with  a  club.  To  make  a  noise  by  slam- 
ming a  door. 

Banger,  ;/.     A  large  person.     A  great  falsehood. 

Banging,  adj.      Large:  as,  "  A  great,  banging  snake." 

\/      ,'Bangup,  (?.(//.      In  fine  style;  complete;  perfect. 

Bank,  n.  A  dark,  thick  cloud,  behind  which  the  sun  goes 
down.  '  The  sun  set  in  a  bank  this  evening,  we  are  going 
to  have  rain." 

Bannisters,  ;;.  Not  Banisters,  nor  connected  with  balusters. 
Persons  with  passes  who  received  money  from  the  mayor  to 
enable  them   to  depart  out  of  the  limits  of  his  jurisdiction. 


Banter — Bars.  51 

A  common  surname,  as  well  as  Christian  name.     Travellers 
in  distress. 

Banter,  n.     A  challenge  to  a  contest. 

Banter,  v.  To  challenge  to  a  contest.  "  He  bantered  him  to 
a  race." 

Bar,  adj.     Bare.      "  On  his  bar  back." 

Barbecue,  n.  Meat  roasted  over  coals  in  a  hole  in  the  ground. 
(2)  A  large  open-air  feast  on  social  or  political  occasions. 

/Barefooted,  p.  p.  Without  shoes  and  socks;  with  the  feet 
naked.  The  children  all  like  to  go  barefooted  in  summer- 
time. 

Barge-board,  n.  A  board  placed  in  the  gable  where  the  roof 
extends  over  the  wall  covering  the  rafter. 

Bark,  v.     To  cough. 

Bark,  v.     To  bark  one's  shins  is  to  knock  the  skin  off. 

Bark,  v.  (1)  To  bark  a  tree,  to  cut  through  the  bark  all 
around  the  tree  so  as  to  kill  the  tree. 

(2)     To  bark  a  squirrell  is  to  shoot  a  rifle  ball  between  him 
and  the  limb. 

Barking-iron,  n.      Instrument  for  removing  bark  for  tanning. 

Barlow-knife,  n.  Pocket-knife  with  long  metal  jaws  and  one 
blade. 

Barrel,  n.  A  barrel  of  corn  is  five  bushels  of  corn  in  the  ears, 
or  unshelled. 

Barren,  adj.  Barren  cows,  cows  not  having  calves  at  the 
usual  season. 

Barring-out,  n.  Turning  out.  Barring  the  schoolmaster  out 
to  get  holidays. 

Barrow,  n.  A  castrated  hog.  (2)  A  wooden  frame  for  carry- 
ing a  load  between  two  men.      Hand-barrow. 

Bars,  n.  pi.     The  ridges  on  the  roof  of  a  horse's  mouth. 


52  Bars — Bay-side. 

Bars,  7i.  pi.  Poles  put  in  holes  in  posts,  to  stop  the  passage  in 
a  road. 

Bason,  n.  A  large  circular  vessel  for  holding  water  for  washing 
purposes.     A  basin. 

■  Baste,  v.     To  sew  together  with  long  stitches,  as  for  trying  on. 
Sew  slightly. 

Basting,  n.     A  beating. 

Bat,  n.     The  night  hawk. 

Bat,  >i.  A  loose  flattened  cylinder  of  cotton  made  on  hand- 
cards  and  put  between  two  layers  of  cloth  for  making  quilts. 

VBat,  v.     To  bat  the  eyes:  to  wink,  or  move  the  eyelids  up  and 
down. 

X^ Batch,  n.     A  number  of  individuals  or  articles  like  each  other. 
A  "  batch    of  bread."     A  "  batch  of  prisoners. " 

Bate,  ;/.  Bait.  The  solution  in  which  hides  are  steeped  to  re- 
move the  lime  in  tanning. 

Batteau,  n.      A  flat,  light-draught  boat,  built  of  planks. 

Batten,  n.  The  frame  in  which  the  slay  is  held  in  a  hand-loom, 
used  for  beating  the  threads  of  the  weft  together.  (2)  The 
thick  frame  that  holds  the  panel  in  a  panel-door. 

Batter-bread,  ;/.  Bread  made  of  corn  meal,  eggs,  and  milk, 
and  baked  in  a  deep  earthenware  dish  or  tin  pan. 

Batter-cake,  >i.  A  thin  cake  made  of  corn  meal,  milk,  and 
eggs,  and  baked  on  a  hot  iron. 

Battle-royal,  n.  A  fight  between  three,  five,  or  seven  cocks 
all  fighting  together,  so  that  the  cock  that  stands  the  longest 
gets  the  day. 

Battoon,  //.     A  stick;  a  club. 

Bawl,  v.  To  cry  out  with  a  loud,  full  sound;  to  shout.  "  The 
child  has  been  bawling  for  an  hour." 

Bay-side,  ;/.  The  Chesapeake  Bay  side  of  Accomack  and 
Northampton  counties. 


B   B  B— Beck.  53 

B  B  B,  n.  Tribble  b's,  a  large  shot;  double  b's,  B  B,  a  smaller 
size. 

Be.  A  common  prefix  to  verbs;  as,  "  Your  face  is  all  be-gormcd 
with  molasses." 

Be-all,  n.     All  that  is  to  be.      "The  be-all  and  end-all." 

Beam,  n.  The  long  arm  of  a  pair  of  stillyards  on  which  the 
"  pea  "  is  slid  while  weighing. 

Bear  a  hand,  v.  To  lend  a  hand;  take  hold;  give  aid  or  assist- 
ance.    To  work  quickly. 

Beard,  n.  (i)  The  fringe  around  the  mouth  of  an  oyster.  (2) 
The  barb  of  a  fishhook.  (3)  A  lock  of  black  hair  hanging 
from  the  breast  of  a  fullgrown  turkey  gobbler. 

Beareing,  ;/.  The  womb?  "  That  her  water  scalded  her  and 
that  her  beareing  came  down."  York  Rec.  p.  168.  Sept. 
25,  1646. 

Bearing,  n.  "Those  external  parts  of  animals  which  are 
concerned  in  parturition."  "The  teats  and  external  parts, 
called  by  farmers  the  bearing."      Murray,  N.  E.  D. 

Bear-grass,  n.  The  yucca.  The  tough  leaves  are  used  as 
strings  for  hanging  up  beef  to  be  smoked. 

Beasts,  n.  pi.      Horned  cattle. 

Beat,  v.  "  To  beat  an  orchard."  Possibly  to  beat  off  part  of 
the  fruit  when  the  trees  were  overloaded. 

XBeat,  v.     To  be  too  difficult  for;  to  baffle.      "That  beats  me." 

Beater,  ;/.  One  who  surpasses,  excells,  goes  beyond.  The 
beater.      ' '  He  beats  the  Jews. 

Beau,  n.  A  piece  of  thorn  or  briar  which  becomes  attached 
to  a  woman's  dress  and  drags  along  after  her. 

^Beauty-sleep,  n.     The  sleep  before  twelve  o'clock  at  night. 

eck,  n.     The  nod  of  the  head  intended  to  express  a  desire,  or 
as  a  sign, of  command.     At  one's  "  beck  and  call." 


54  Bedcord — Bee-martin. 

Bedcord,  n.  The  rope  that  goes  from  side  to  side  and  end  to 
end  of  the  bed-rails  to  hold  the  bed. 

Bedding,  n.     Bedclothes.      "  Beds  and  bedding." 

■  Bedlam,;/.      A  noise   and    confusion.      "Hush!  you    make   a 
regular  bedlam."      "  You'd  as  well  be  in  bedlam." 

Bedquilt,  n.     A  wadded  and  quilted  covering  for  a  bed. 

Bed-rug,  n.     A  counterpane;  a  coverlid. 

Bedstick,  n.  Bedstaff.  A  long  stick  used  for  smoothing  the 
bedclothes  when  bedsteads  were  too  high  and  broad  to  be 
reached  with  the  hand. 

Bedstid,  n.   A  bedstead. 

Bed  tyke,  n.     Bed-tick. 

Bed-wrench,  ;/.  A  wooden  instrument  divided  at  one  end 
something  like  a  boot-jack  used  for  tightening  the  cords  of 
the  old-fashion  corded  bedsteads. 

Beebread,  //.      Brown,  bitter  substance   found   in  honeycomb, 
food  for  young  bees. 

Beef,  n.  Cattle  fattened  for  food.  Flesh  of  cattle  when  killed. 
Beeves,  Beaves.     The  animal  sold  to  the  butcher  for  meat. 

Beef-rope,  //.  A  large,  strong  rope  used  when  a  beef  is  to  be 
butchered,  for  controlling  the  animal  and  hoisting  it  up  to 
be  skinned. 

Beefy,  adj.     Stout;  fleshy.      "  He  has  grown  very  beefy" 

Bee-glue,  ;/.      A  soft  substance   with    which  bees  cement  the 

comb  to  the  hive  and  close  up  the  cells. 
Bee-gum,  n.      Hollow  section  of  a  tree  used  as  a  beehive. 
VBee-line,  n.     The  straightest  line  from  one  place  to  another. 

Bee-martin,  >/.  A  small  bird  that  lights  and  keeps  off  hawks, 
crows  and  other  birds  of  prey,  and  is  encouraged  to  live 
near,  by  having  a  small  box  put  on  a  pole  where  he  can 
make  a  nest. 


Been  to — Bellowses.  55 

XBeen   to,    v.      "I've   been  to   dinner."      "Have  you   been   to 
church  ?  "     Simply  asks  a  question. 

Beer,  n.     The  number  of  threads  in  a  chain  of  warp. 

Beestlings,  n.  Beeslings,  Beaslins,  Beslings.  First  milk  of 
a  cow  with  her  first  calf.  Generally  poured  on  her  rump  to 
make  her  gentle  and  a  good  milch  cow. 

Bee-tree,  n.  A  hollow  tree  in  which  the  wild  honey-bee  makes 
its  hive. 

^Beforehand,  adv.     In  advance.      "  He  is  well  beforehand  with 
his  crop." 

^Befriend,  v.     To  act  as  a  friend;  to  benefit;  to  help. 

Beggar's  lice,  n.     The  seeds  of  a  weed  that  stick  to  clothing. 

Begin,  v.  To  begin  to  scold;  trouble;  to  cry;  to  a  child  about 
to  cry  it  is  said:    "  Now  you  are  going  to  begin." 

Behanged.     An  exclamation.      "You  be/ianged. " 

VBehave,  v.      To   conduct  one's  self  properly.       "Come,  be- 
have! "  is  a  caution  often  given  to  unruly  children. 

Behindhand,  adv.  In  a  state  in  which  means  are  not  adequate 
to  wants.      To  be  behindhand  in  one's  circumstances. 

Behind  the  door,  prep.  Showing  how  one  has  been  over- 
looked. Behind  the  door,  when  beauty  (or  any  feature), 
was  given  out.  A  person  wanting  in  beauty  or  with  a  faulty 
nose  was  behind  the  door,  when  beauty  and  noses  were  served 
out. 

N7Beholden,/>a/Y.     Obliged;  bound  in  gratitude;  indebted.     "He 
is  beholden  to  A.  for  his  success  in  life." 

Belated,  past  part.  Hindered;  behind  the  time.  '  Hurry  up, 
don't  be  belated." 

Beliked,  v     Liked;  beloved.      "  Much  beliked. 

Bell-metal,  n.  A  variety  of  bronze  of  which  skillets,  preserv- 
ing-kettles, etc.,  are  made. 

Bellowses,  n.     For  belloics. 


56  Bell-wether— Bent. 

Bell-wether,  n.  Leader  of  a  flock  of  sheep  with  a  bell.  Ap- 
plied also  to  persons  who  lead  a  number  of  followers. 

Belly-ache,  n.     Cholic. 

Belly-band,  n.  A  girth  to  secure  a  cart-saddle.  (2)  An 
infant's  binder. 

Belly-bound,  n.     Costive. 

Belly-buster,  n.  To  jump  from  a  height  into  the  water,  fall- 
ing on  the  belly,  is  to  make  a  belly-buster.  , 

Bellyfull,  n.  Enough;  a  sufficiency.  "  He  has  gotten  his  bel- 
lyful I  this  time." 

Belly-part,  n.  The  thin  bacon  that  comes  from  the  abdomen 
of  the  hog. 

Belly- shot,  v.  Cattle  that  have  become  lean  and  pinched  from 
lack  of  food  in  the  winter.  "  Their  guts  shrink  up  and  they 
become  Belly-shot  as  they  call  it." 

Belly-timber,  n.     Food;  that  which  supplies  the  belly. 

V  Belittle,  v.  To  make  smaller;  to  lower  in  character;  to  speak 
of  in  a  depreciatory  or  contemptuous  way. 

.^Belong,  v.     To  have  it's  or  one's  proper  place;  be  resident;  as, 
' '  This  book  belongs  on  the  top  shelf. "      "I  belong  here. 
To  be  the  property  of.      ' '  That  house  belongs  to  me. ' ' 

/  Belongings,  n.  pi.  Property;  possessions;  that  which  belongs 
to  one.  '  He  has  moved  away  with  his  family  and  all  his 
belongings." 

Belt,  v.  To  cut  away  the  bark  around  the  body  of  a  tree  a  few 
feet  from  the  ground  that  it  may  die. 

--  Belt,  v.     To  beat;  to  whip. 

Bend,  ?i.  A  turn  in  a  road,  or  river:  "  He  lives  near  the  bend 
of  the  road." 

Bender,  n.  A  spree;  a  frolic.  "He  was  on  a  bender  {ox  a 
week." 

Bent,  ;/.  Gap  in  a  chain  of  hills;  steep  place;  slope.  In  the 
old  land  surveys. 


Bent— Big-bugs.  57 

\Bent,  adj.     Determined;  set.      "  He  is  bent  on  doing  it." 

Berlue,  n.     Great   noise   among   children.      Racket.       Hulla- 
bulloo.   (?) 

Bermoothes,  n.     An  old  name  for  the  Bermuda  Islands. 

Bespoke,  pa stpart.     Bewitched;  conjured. 

Best-girl,  n.     Sweetheart. 

Betimes,  adv.      In  good  season  or  time.      Before  it  is  too  late; 
early.      ' '  Up  betimes. 

Better,  adv.      More,  without  any  idea  of  superior  excellence: 
as,  "  It  is  better  than  a  mile  to  town." 

Betterment,  n.       A  making    better,  usually  applied    to   some 
improvement  to  land. 

Betweenwhiles,  n.      In  the  meantime;  at  odd  times;  at  leisure 
intervals. 

Beverage,  n.     A  drink  made  of  hard  cider  and  water. 

Bezel,  n.     Basil.      The  slope  at  the  edge  of  a  cutting-tool,  as 
a  plane-iron  or  chisel. 

Bias,  adj.     Oblique;  diagonal  to  the  outline  of  the  texture;  as, 
to  cut  a  piece  of  cloth  bias. 

Bib,  ;/.     A  cloth  put  under  children's  chins  when  they  are  eat- 
ing.    The  part  of  an  apron  above  the  waistband. 

Bib-an-tucker,  n.     The  clothes;    the  whole  costume.      "She 
was  dressed  in  her  best  bib-an-tucker. 

Bibble,  v.     To   drink  like  a  duck.      "Ducks  bibbling  in  the 
water. ' ' 

Bid,  n.     An  invitation.      "  He  got  a  bid  to  the  party." 

Bid,  v.     To  invite. 

s/Big,  adj.  Great  as  regards  wealth,  influence,  standing.  "He 
is  a  big  man  among  them."  (2)  Also,  strong;  violent.  "  I 
don't  like  to  be  out  in  a  big  wind."  (3)  Grown  up.  "  He 
was  a  boy,  and  she  a  big  woman.1' 

Big-bugs,  n.  pi.      People  of  consequence. 


58  Big-chair — Binder. 

Big-chair,  n.  A  large  chair  with  arms,  usually  occupied  by 
some  of  the  older  members  of  the  family.  "  He  was  sitting 
in  the  big-chair  by  the  fire  when  I  went  in." 

.Biggest,  adj.      Most.      "I   was   there  the  biggest  part  of  the 
day." 

Bight,  n.  A  small,  circular  sheet  of  water  between  two  points 
of  land.  "  We  put  the  boat  in  the  bight,  out  of  the  way  of 
the  ice." 

Big-meeting,  ;;.  A  meeting  at  country  churches  kept  up  for 
several  days,  the  preachers  and  congregation  coming  from  a 
distance.      "  Protracted  meeting." 

Bigness,  n.  Size,  large  or  small.  "  They  are  about  of  the 
same  bigness. ' ' 

Big  woods,  n.  A  large  growth  of  trees,  distinguished  from  a 
thicket.  "  The  hogs  are  now  in  the  big-woods,  feeding  on 
the  mast." 

Bile,  n.     The  true  English  form.      An  inflamed  tumour. 

Bile,  v.  For  boil. 

Bill,  ;/.      Bank-note;  paper  money. 

Billett,  ;/.      A  stick  of  wood,  such  as  cut  for  firewood. 

Bill-holt,  n.  A  strong  hold  of  anything;  as  when  a  muscovy 
•drake  siezes  with  his  bill  and  will  not  let  go,  he  is  said  to 
have  a  •'  bill -holt  r 

Bills,  >i.  pi.     Bank-notes;  all  kinds  of  paper  money. 

Bill  of  loading,  ;/.      For  bill  of  lading. 

Bimeby,  adv.      By  and  by. 

Bin,  ;/.  A  large  wooden  box  for  holding  grain,  or  food  for 
cattle. 

Bin,  past  part.      Vox  been. 

Bind,  v.     To  tie  the  bands  around  the  sheafs  in  the  harvest  field. 
Binder,  n.     One  who  tics  up  sheaves. 


Binder — Black  and  white.  59 

Binder,  //.  A  soft,  broad  piece  of"  cloth  around  the  body  of  a 
new-born  child. 

Binding,  part.  Forming  a  border  or  edge  on.  ' '  Land  binding 
on  the  north  side  of  the  inlet." 

Binding,  part.     Causing  constipation.      "Cheese  is  very  bind- 

Dig. 

Bird-hunting,  n.      Hunting  and  shooting  partridges. 

Birds,  n.  Always  means  partridges.  "Are  there  many  birds 
this  season  ?  " 

y&irthmark,  n.     Stain  on  the  face  or  body  of  a  new-born  child. 

Biscuit,  ;/.  A  small,  round,  soft  cake  made  from  dough  raised 
with  yeast,  sometimes  shortened  with  lard. 

t^  Bishop,  ;/.     A  woman's  bustle. 

Bit,  ;/.     A  small  West  India  coin  worth  10  cents. 

Bit,  n.  The  part  of  a  key  that  is  cut  to  pass  the  wards  of  a 
lock.  The  part  of  a  key  at  right  angles  to  the  barrel  or 
stock.  "  To  every  ward  on  the  plate  make  a  slit  or  ward 
in  the  bit  of  the  key." 

^\Bit,  n.  A  small  piece  or  fragment  of  anything.  It  is  used 
depreciatingly.  A  little  bit  of  a  man.  Little  bits  of  chil- 
dren. 

Bite,  ;/.     A  mouthful.      "  To  take  a  bite  out  of  an  apple." 

■  Bitter,  adj.      Unpalatable;   hard  to  swallow,   literally  or  figu- 
ratively.     A  bitter  pill.      Bitter  cold. 

Bitter-end,//.  The  utmost  extremity;  to  the  very  last.  'He 
held  on  to  the  bitter-end. 

Bity.     Good  bye;  good  bye  to  ye. 

"■Blab,  v.      To  tell  in  a  thoughtless  manner  what  ought  to  be 
kept  secret.     A  blab,  a  talker,  telltale. 

Black,  n.      Mourning  clothes;  as,  "She's  in  black." 

^xBlack   and   white,  n.       In  writing.      "I'd  like  to  have  it  in 
black  and  zvkite." 


60  Black-book — Blaze-face. 

■  Black-book,  n.      An  imaginary  record  of  offences  and  sins. 

Black-eyed  peas,  n.  pi.  Small,  roundish  peas  with  black  eyes, 
used  for  food  when  fresh,  and  also  when  dry. 

Blackberry,  n.  The  fruit  of  those  species  of  rubus  in  which 
the  receptacle  becomes  juicy  and  falls  off. 

Black  cattle,  n.  Cattle  for  slaughter;  not  work  cattle,  or  for 
breeding. 

Blacken,  v.     To  smear  with  blacking;  as  to  blacken  shoes. 

Blackleg,  n.     A  gambler. 

•  Black-sheep,  n.  Flocks  of  sheep  were  small,  and  nearly  every 
flock  had  a  black  sheep  to  furnish  black  wool,  before  there 
were  facilities  for  dyeing.  Used  for  mixing  the  colours  or 
making  stripes  or  checks.     A  black  sheep  was  also  for  good 

luck. 

\ Blade,  >i.     A  leaf;  blade  of  wheat;  blade  of  grass. 

Blades,  n.  pi.  The  leaves  of  corn  pulled  and  dried  for 
fodder. 

Blades,  ;/.  pi.  An  implement  on  the  lour  arms  of  which  a 
skein  is  stretched  by  means  of  sticks,  for  winding  into  balls. 
Winding-blades. 

■^lame,  ;/.  Responsibility  for  something  that  is  wrong. 
"  You'll  lay  the  blame  on  me." 

Blame,  v.  A  common  substitute  for  a  worse  word;  as,  "I'll 
be  blamed  if  I  do."  (2)  To  condemn.  "She  did  it,  but  I 
was  always  blamed  for  it." 

Blast,  v.     To  wither;  be  blighted.      The  crops  are  blasted. 

Blate,  v.      Bleat.     The  voice  of  a  sheep  or  calf. 

Blather,  n.     Bladder. 

Blaze,  v.  To  mark  a  tree  by  cutting  off  the  bark.  To  blaze 
a  path. 

Blaze-face,  ;/.  With  a  white  face  or  white  spot  on  the  fore- 
head: as,  a  blaze-face  horse. 


Bleak — Blood-shotten.  61 

\Bleak,  adj.      Cold;     chill;     piercing.       "That   is    a   very   bleak 
place  during  a  nor'  wester. "      "  Right  on  the  river,  and  very 

bleak  r 

Blemish,  n.  A  motion  as  if  to  strike.  "  He  made  a  blemish 
at  him."  (2)  A  speck  or  defect  in  the  eye.  "  He's  got  a 
blemish  in  one  eye." 

Blessing,  n.  A  fierce  scolding.  "  You'll  get  a  blessing  when 
you  go  home." 

Blind,  n.     Anything  which  obstructs  the  sight.     A  blind  bridle. 

Blind,  n.  A  small  hut  of  boughs  in  which  one  hides  from  ap- 
proaching game.  A  duck-blind.  A  pretence;  a  stratagem. 
"He  did  it  only  for  a  blinds 

Blind  bile,  n.     A  bile  that  does  not  come  to  a  head. 

Blind  man's  holiday,  n.  Twilight;  when  it  gets  too  dark  to 
see  how  to  work. 

Blindside,  n.  Weak  or  unguarded  side  of  a  person  or  thing. 
"  I'll  try  to  get  on  his  blindside." 

Bline,  adj.      Blind. 

Blink,  v.  To  smile,  to  look  kindly,  but  with  a  modest  eye, 
the  word  being  generally  applied  to  females. 

Blob,  n.     A  big  drop. 

Blob,  n.     A  blister;  a  small  globe  of  liquid. 

Blob  out,  v.     To  blab  out.      "  He  blobs  everything  right  out." 

Block,  n.  Block  of  cotton,  a  number  of  hanks  put  up  in  the 
shape  of  a  square  block,  the  hanks  twisted  together  and 
tied,  weighing  five  pounds. 

■sVBlood-blister,  n.     A  small  blister  filled  with  blood,  made  by  a 
blow  or  a  pinch. 

Blood-raw,  adj.  So  raw  that  the  blood  runs  out;  as,  under- 
cooked meat. 

Blood-shotten,  part.  Red  and  inflamed,  said  of  the  eye,  from 
a  blow,  or  other  cause. 


s 


62  Blood-sucker — Blunder. 

Blood-sucker,  n.     A  stinging  jelly-fish. 

Bloom,  n.     A  blossom.      "The  apple  tree  is  full  of  blooms." 

Blotch,  n.     A  spot  of  any  kind,  especially  a  large,  irregular 
spot. 

Blow,  n.     Wind  storm.      "A  heavy  blow  yesterday." 

Blow,  n.     A  blossom;  bloom;  as,  "peach-blow." 

Blow,  v.      To  bloom;  blossom;  flower. 

Blower,  n.      Braggart.      "Blow-hard." 

Blowfly,  ;/.     The  large  blue  fly  that  blows  meat. 

Blow-out,  n.     A  great  demonstration.      A  hearty  meal. 

Blow-up,  v.     To  scold  severely. 

Blowy,  adj.      Windy;  blustering,      "  It's  a  blowy  day." 

Blowzy,   adj.      Unkempt;    as   bloivzy  hair;    wild;    disordered; 
confused. 

Blubber,  v.     To  weep;  especially  in  such  a  manner  as  to  swell 
the  cheeks;  used  in  sarcasm  or  ridicule. 

Blubber,  n.      For  bubble. 

Blue,  adj.      Dismal;  unpromising  as  applied  to  things. 

Blue-devils,  n.  pi.     Low  spirits;  depression  of  mind.     Delirium 
tremens. 

Blueing,  n.     A  preparation  of  indigo  used  for  giving  a  blue 
color  to  clothes. 

Bluestone,  n.     Sulphate  of  copper. 

Bluff,  n.      A  hill,  bank,  or  headland,  with  a  steep  broad  face. 
"Drewry's  Bluff." 

Bluff,  adj.      Blustering;  surly. 

Bluff,  v.     To  repulse  or  frighten  by  a  bold  front.      To  bluff  off 
a  dun. 

Blunder,  v.     To  make  a  noise;  stumble  about.      "What  are 
you  doing  blundering  about  there  in  the  dark  ?  " 


Blunderbuss — Boll.  63 

Blunderbuss,  ;/.     A  stupid,  blundering  person. 

Blunt,  adj.      Plain  spoken;  direct;  as,  blunt  bearing. 

Blur,  v.     To  obscure  without  effacing;  render  indistinct. 

Blur-eyed,  adj.      Blear  eyed. 

Blurt,  v.     To  utter  suddenly;  divulge  unadvisedly.     Commonly 
with  out. 

Blush,  n.     Glance;  look.      "  At  the  first  blush  it  looks  like  it." 

Bluster,  v.     To  be  loud,  noisy,  or  swaggering. 

Blustering, /w/7.    Stormy;  windy.    A  blustering  day.    Blustery. 

Boar-cat,  n.     A  he-cat;  a  male  cat. 

Bob,  n.     The  pear  shaped  piece  of  lead  at  the  end  of  the  line 
of  a  carpenter's  level.     Plumb-bob. 

Bobtail,  n.     A  contemptible  fellow;  a  cur.     (2)  Short;  cut  tail 
of  an  animal,  horse,  dog,  or  other. 

Bob- white,  n.     A  partridge.     The  word  quail  is  never  used 
as  the  name  of  this  bird. 

Boddom,  n.     For  bottom. 

Bodily,  adv.      Entirely.      "  He  carried  all  off  bodily." 

Body,?/.      In  the  sense  of  a  person.      "  Why  cant  you  let  a 
body  alone?"       (2)  The    fundament;    when   a  person    has 
falling  out  of  the  rectum  he  is  said  to  have  his  ' '  body  down. 
(3)  Tract  of  land.      "He  has  a  good  body  of  land  on  the 
river. ' ' 

Bofet,  n.     A  buffet,  generally  in  a  corner,  with  glass  doors,  for 
holding  crockery  and  such  like.     Boffet.     M.  E.      Baufat. 

Boggle,  v.     To  do  anything  in  a  slovenly,  blundering  way;  to 
bungle. 

Bogue,  v.     To  grope,  or  wander  uncertainly  about:  as,  "  Bogue- 
ing  about  in  the  dark." 

Boiling,  n.     Every  one;  the  entire  lot;  all  put  together.      "  He 
is  worth  the  whole  boiling  of  them." 

Boll,  n.     The  pod  that  holds  the  cotton. 


64  Bolt— Borrow. 

Bolt,  v.  To  swallow  hurriedly  without  chewing:  as,  to  bolt 
food.  (2)  To  remove  the  bran  from  flour;  the  mills  have 
bolting  cloths  for  that  purpose.     To  sift. 

Bolt,  n.  A  roll  of  indefinite  length,  canvass,  tape,  or  other 
woven  goods. 

Boltings,  71.  pi.  The  "bran,"  and  "seconds"  separated  from 
the  flour  in  the  bolting  process. 

Boltsprit,  n.     The  head  yard  of  a  vessel.      Bosplit. 

Bone  to  pick,  v.  To  have  a  bone  to  pick  with  some  one  is  to 
have  a  cause  for  a  quarrel  with  him. 

Bones,  ;/.  pi.  To  make  "no  bones,"  to  make  or  have  no 
scruples  about,  or  in  regard  to. 

Book-learning,  n.      Learning  acquired  by  reading. 

Boom  out,  v.  When  a  boat  is  running  before  the  wind  the 
sails  are  boomed  out,  one  on  each  side  to  catch  as  much  wind 
as  possible.  1 

Boot,  n.  Wheat  is  in  the  boot  when  the  stalk  is  swollen  near 
the  top,  just  before  the  head  has  come  out  of  the  upper  leaf 
or  sheath. 

Boot,  ;/.  To  the  advantage;  into  the  bargain;  in  addition;  over 
and  above;  besides;  to  boot. 

Bootlick,  ;;.  A  person  who  tries  to  gain  favour  by  mean  be- 
havior. 

Boottee,  n.  Foot-gear  for  women  to  come  high  about  the 
ankle 

Boozy,  adj.      Partly  drunk. 

Bo-peep,;/.      Amusement  for  children;  generally  pee-bo. 

Bore,  ;/.  One  who  or  that  which  bores  one,  or  causes  annoy- 
ance. 

Born-days,  n.  In  one's  born  days,  in  one's  lifetime.  '  I've 
never  seen  anything  like  that  before  in  my  born-days." 

Borrow,  ;/.      Barrow.     A  gelt  hog. 


Borrowing-days — Bound.  65 

Borrowing-days,  n.  pi.  The  last  three  days  of  March  are 
said  to  have  been  borrowed  from  April,  and  supposed  to  be 
especially  stormy. 

Bosplit,  n.     The  head  yard  of  a  vessel.     Boltsprit,  Bowsprit. 

Botch,  n.     A  bungled  or  unfinished  part. 

Botch,  v.     To  mend  or  patch  in  a  clumsy  manner. 

Botcher,  n.     One  who  botches;  a  clumsy,  bungling  workman. 

Bother,  v.     To  give  trouble  to;  annoy;  pester;  worry. 

Bother  one's  head,  v.  To  trouble  one's  self.  "  He  don't 
bother  his  head  with  that." 

Bothersome,  adj.  Troublesome;  annoying;  vexatious;  incon- 
venient. 

Bots,  n.  pi.      Intestinal  worms  in  animals. 

Bottom,  11.     Low  land  near  a  river;  or  between  two  hills;  a 

valley. 
Bottom,  n.     Cocoon  of  the  silkworm.      "Sent  over  ten  bottoms 

taken  from  Apple  trees." 

Bouge,  n.  For  bulge;  bilge:  the  round  swelling  part  of  a  cask. 
Virginia  tobacco-hogshead.  "  F'orty-three  inches  in  length, 
and  the  head  twenty-six  inches  wide,  with  the  Bon^e  pro- 
portionable." 

Bough,  n.  A  smaller  branch  of  a  tree.  "A  bough  full  of 
cherries." 

Bouquet,  11.     A  bunch  of  cut  flowers  tied  together. 

Bounce,  n.  A  drink  made  by  adding  cherries,  sugar  and 
flavouring  spices  to  alcoholic  liquors,  and  left  to  stand. 

Bounce,  adj.     With  a  bounce;  suddenly. 

Bouncer,;/.      A  large,  strong,  vigorous  person.     A  bareface  lie. 

Bouncing,  part.     Exaggerated;  excessive;  big. 

Bound,/),  a.  Obliged  by  moral,  legal,  or  compellable  ties; 
under  obligation  or  compulsion.  Determined;  resolved; 
as,  "He  is  bound  to  do   it."      "I'll  be  bound  you'll  find 


66  Bounden — Brad. 

Tom  there." "  "  I'll  be  bound  for  him."  (2)  Costive;  con- 
stipated in  the  bowels. 

Bounden,/).  a.  Obliged;  bound  or  under  obligation.  The 
bounden  duty. 

Bout,  )i.  As  much  of  an  action  as  is  performed  at  one  time. 
A  turn  or  fit  of  sickness,  as,  a  bout  of  rheumatism. 

Bow,  ;/.      Handle  of  scissors;  or  of  a  key. 

Bow-arrow,  ;/.      A  bow  and  arrows. 

Bowels,  n.  To  move  the  bowels,  to  produce  evacuation  of  the 
bowels  by  giving  a  purgative. 

Bower,  ;/.  A  shelter  made  with  boughs;  an  arbour;  a  shady 
recess.     A  "bower  meeting. " 

Bow-knot,  n.  A  large,  loose,  and  wide  knot,  made  by  doub- 
ling the  two  ends  and  tying. 

Bowsplit,  11.  Bowsprit.  The  spar  that  goes  out  of  the  bow 
of  a  vessel  for  holding  the  head  sails.      Boltsplit. 

Box,  n.     A  blow  with  the  open  hand.      (2)  A  coffin. 

Box,  v.     To  strike  on  the  side  of  the  face  with  the  open  hand. 

"  Box  his  jaws." 
Box-iron,  n.     A  hollow  smoothing-iron,   kept  hot  by  a  piece 

of  hot  iron  put  inside  called  a  "heater."     Spoken  of  as  a 

"  box-iron  and  heater." 
Box -turtle,  n.     A  species  of  terrapin  the  lower  shell  of  which 

is  joined  by  a  hinge,  by  means  of  which  the  body  may  be 

enclosed  as  in  a  box. 
Boy,  //.      Name  given  to  a  black  male  servant  whatever  his  age. 
Brace,  >i.     A  measure  of  length.      Originally  the  measure  of 

the  outstretched  arms.      Fathom.     (The  French  brasse  was 

1.62  metres=to  about  64  inches  ) 
Brack,  >i.      A  break;  a  crack;   a  flaw.      "Without  a  brack  or  a 

< ) tick.' ' 
Brad,  >i.      A    slender   nail    having,  instead   of  a   head,  a    slight 

projection  on  one  side. 


Brag — Break.  67 

Brag,  v.     To  use  boastful  language;  boast;  vaunt. 

Braggart,  ;/.     A  boaster;  a  vaunting  fellow. 

Brake,  n.  Break.  A  fork  in  which  pieces  of  wood  are  held 
when  slabs  and  staves  are  riven  with  a  froe. 

Brambles,  n.  pi.     Blackberry  bushes. 

Bramble-saw,  n.  A  saw  the  use  of  which  is  undetermined. 
' '  Cross-cut  bramb/c-sa.w. 

Branch,  n.  A  small  stream  of  water.  A  brook,  or  one  prong 
of  a  stream  or  run.  "Western  Branch."  "Southern 
Branch." 

Branch,  n.  A  pilot's  license  given  to  one  who  has  stood  an 
examination  and  been  received  as  competent. 

Bran  new,  adj.     Quite  new;  fire  new. 
v/Brash,  n.     Sudden  nausea,  with  acid  rising  in  the  mouth,  as 
in  heartburn. 

Brash,  adj.     Impetuous;  rash. 
Brass,  n.      Money. 

Brass,  n.     Excessive  assurance;  impudence;  brazenness. 
Brat,  n.     A  child. 

Brawny,  Wy'.     Fleshy;  muscular;  having  large  strong  muscles- 
Brazen,  adj.     Impudent;  having  a  front  like  brass. 
Brazen-faced,  adj.      Impudent;  bold  to  excess;  shameless. 

Bread-corn,  n.     The  white,  and  best  corn,  was  always  used 

for  grinding  into  meal  for  bread.     When  a  man  had  a  scant 

crop  it  was  said  that  he  would  not  make  bread-corn;  that  is 

enough  for  bread. 
Break,  v.     To  change  money.      "  He  broke  the  note  and  it  soon 

went. ' ' 
Break,  v.      To   break  wool  was  to   mix  the  white  and  black 

wools,  card  them  together  to  make  gray  or  mixed  colour 

for  cloth  or  stockings. 
Break,  v.     To  break  out  in  a  new  spot;  to  do  something  new; 

to  do  something  else. 


68  Break — Bridle-up. 

Break,  v.     To  become  bankrupt;  to  fail  in  business. 

Break-down,  n.     A  riotous  dance. 

Breakfusses,  n.  pi.      For  breakfasts. 

Break  out,  v.     As  an  eruption;  as  sores  on  one's  body  or  face. 

Break  up,  v.     To  plough  pasture  land  for  cultivation. 

Breath,  n.  The  air  breathed  at  one  time;  to  take  "  a  breath 
of  air,"  as  one  who  suffers  from  want  of  fresh  air,  or  from 
too  much  heat. 

Breath,  n.      For  breadth. 

Breck,  ;/.     A  break;  breach;  fracture. 

Breed,  n.  Sort;  kind;  in  a  general  sense.  A  good  breed  of 
dogs. 

Breeder,  n.      That   which   produces,  causes,  or  brings  about. 
"A  weather  breeder." 

Breeder,  n.  A  woman  who  has  many  children.  "She  is  a 
good-breeder,  she  has  a  dozen  children." 

Breeding,  n.      Education;  good- breeding. 

Breeze,  n.     A  noisy  quarrel;  a  disturbance;  a  row. 

Breeze  up,  v.  When  the  wind  begins  to  grow  in  force  from  a 
calm.      "  The  wind  began  to  breeze  up  from  the  south." 

Bresh,  n.  Brush.  The  small  branches  and  twigs  of  trees. 
"BresA-heaps,"  when  piled  to  be  dried  and  burnt. 

Brickbat,  ;/.     A  piece  of  brick. 

Brickly,  adj.      Easily  broken;  brittle.      Brickie. 

Brick  oven,  ;/.  An  oven  made  of  bricks,  with  a  dome  top.  in 
which  bread  and  pies  were  baked.  Het  by  putting  wood 
into  the  oven,  and  when  hot  the  coals  and  ashes  were  taken 
out,  and  the  bread  put  in. 

Bricks,  ;/.  pi.  A  paved  walk  near  a  house  or  garden.  "  He 
was  standing  on  the  bricks." 

Bridle  up,  v.  To  raise  the  head  scornfully.  "She  bridled  up 
at  what  he  said. ' ' 


Bridle-wise — Broach,  69 

Bridle -wise,  adj.  A  horse  trained  to  the  use  of  the  bridle; 
"not  bridle-wise"  said  of  an  untrained  colt,  and  also  of  a 
young  person  headstrong  and  undisciplined. 

Brief,  adj.  Common;  rife;  prevalent:  as,  "I  hear  that  small- 
pox is  very  brief  there." 

Briary,  adj.      Full  of  briars;  rough;  thorny. 

Bright,  adj.     Intelligent;  quick;  having  an  active  mind. 

Brile,  n.  and  v.      For  broil. 

Brim,  n.  Brink;  edge  or  margin:  as,  full  to  the  brim.  The 
upper  edge  of  any  thing  hollow:  as,  the  brim  of  a  cup. 
Hat-brim.. 

Brimming  over,  part.     Overfull;  running  over. 

Brimstone,  n.     Sulphur  in  rolls. 

Brindle,  n.  A  colour  or  mixture  of  which  gray  is  the  base, 
mixed  with  darker  colours;  applied  to  cattle  and  dogs. 

Bring  up,  v.  To  rear;  to  raise.  "  They  tried  to  bring  up  their 
children  well. " 

Brisket,  n.     Of  beef,  a  piece  cut  off  the  breastbone. 

Bristle,  v.  To  show  anger,  resentment,  or  defiance.  To  bris- 
tle up. 

Bristly,  adj.     Thickly  set  with  bristles;  rough.     "Bristly  hair. 

Britch,  n.      Breech.     Britch  of  a  gun. 

Britchin,  n.  That  part  of  horse-harness  passing  around  the 
hind  part  of  the  horse  and  fastened  near  the  ends  of  the 
backhand  on  the  shafts  to  keep  the  cart  from  running  on 
the  horse  in  going  down  hill. 

British,  n.  For  the  British  army.  In  use  when  the  troops 
were  in  Virginia. 

Broach,  ;/.  A  pin  for  fastening  the  clothes  or  ornamental  pur- 
poses. 

Broach,  n.  A  quantity  of  cotton  or  yarn  spun  and  run  up  on 
the  spindle  of  a  spinning-wheel,   then  reeled   into   hanks, 


70  Broach — Brown-study. 

washed,  and  wound  into  balls.  A  strip  of  cornshuck  was 
put  on  the  spindle  so  as  to  slip  it  off  when  the  broach  was 
big  enough. 

Broach,  v.     To  bore  a  hole  in  a  cask  to  draw  off  liquids. 

Broad-axe,  n.     A  broad-bladed  axe  for  hewing"  timber. 

Broad-cast,  n.     Wheat  sown  by  hand  and  not  in  drills. 

Broad-hoe,  ;/.  A  hoe  with  a  blade  a  foot  wide,  and  long  handle 
for  weeding  corn. 

Broad-spoken,  adj.     Out-spoken,   using  coarse  language. 

Broke,  v.  A  young  woman  who  has  lost  her  beauty  is  said  to 
be  "  broke  all  to  pieces." 

Broken,  past  part.  Rough;  uneven.  "  The  land  is  very  much 
broken.^ 

Broken-doses,  ;/.  Small  and  often  repeated  does.  "  It  is 
better  to  take  quinine  in  broken-doses.'' 

Brood,  n.  The  number  of  chickens  that  a  hen  hatches  at  one 
time;  or  the  number  given  to  her  to  take  care  of:  a  brood 
of  chickens. 

Brood,  v.     To  ponder;  to  meditate  long  and  anxiously. 

Brood-mare,  n.  A  mare  that  is  kept  for  breeding  purposes 
and  not  for  work. 

Broom-corn,  n.  A  sort  of  corn  that  grows  six  or  eight  feet 
high,  from  the  tops  of  which  brooms  are  made. 

Broomstick-marriage,  n.  Two  people  living  together  as  man 
and  wile  without  legal  marriage,  are  said  to  have  been  mar- 
ried by  jumping  over  the  broomstick. 

Brothren,  )i.  pi.      Brethren. 

Brow,  ;/.  Edge  of  a  hill.  "The  trees  were  growing  on  the 
very  brow  of  the  hill." 

Brow-ague,  >i.     Frontal  neuralgia. 

Brown-study,;/.      A   reverie.      "There  he  sat    in  a  bro'ccn- 

study  and  didn't  hear  what  was  said  to  him." 


Bruff—  Bud.  71 

Bruff,  adj.     Rough;  short  in  manners  and  speech. 

Bruised-blood,  n.  Clotted  blood  under  the  skin.  "  His  lip 
was  cut,  and  his  mouth  was  full  of  braised-blood.'' 

Brung,  v.     Brought.      Past  tense  of  bring. 

Brunswick  Stew,  n.  A  stew  made  of  squirrel  or  chicken 
meat,  lima  beans  and  green  corn  cooked  together  and  sea- 
soned with  pepper  and  salt. 

Brush,  n.     The  tail  of  a  fox. 

Brussles,  n.  pi.     A  variant  of  bristles. 

Bubby,  n.     A  woman's  breast. 

Buck,  n.  A  gay  or  fashionable  man.  (2)  The  nickname  for 
William. 

Bucket,  ;/.       Wooden   or  metal  vessels,    usually  carried   by  a 

handle  over  the  top. 
Bucket-ears,  n.  pi.     The  metal  eyelets  at  the  upper  edge  in 

which  the  handle  works. 

Buckle,  v.  The  bendine  of  a  mast.  "  How  that  mast  buckles 
with  this  wind." 

Buckle  to,  v.     To  set  to  work  in  downright  earnest. 

Buck-load,  n.     A  large  drink  of  liquor. 

Buckram,  n.      A  fine  and   costly  material   used   for  personal 

wear. 
Buck-saw,  n.     A  long,   narrow  saw  set  in  upright  sticks,  as 

handles,  used  for  sawing  wood,  on  a  buck,  or  horse. 

Buckshot,  n.      Large  shot  used  in  deer-shooting. 

Buckskin,  n.  Name  given  to  colonial  Virginians  from  their 
buckskin  hunting-shirts.  General  Braddock  asked:  "  If  His 
Majesty's  Regulars  were  to  be  taught  the  art  of  war  by  '  Vir- 
ginia Buckskins.' 

Buck-up-to,  v.  To  make  advances  of  courtship.  '  I  saw  Bob 
bucking  up  to  her  at  the  party." 

Bud,  v.     A  calf's  horns  bud. 


72  Budge— Bullyrag. 

Budge,  v.  To  move;  stir;  change  position;  give  way;  now 
usually  with  a  negative,  implying  stubborn  resistance  to 
pressure. 

Budget,  n.     A  bundle.      "  He  had  a  budget  of  clothes  under  his 

arm." 

Buff,  ;/.     The  bare  skin. 

Buff,  ;/.  Thick  leather  made  of  oxhide,  dressed  with  oil,  of  a 
yellowish  white  colour. 

Buffalo,  u.     Cattle  without  horns.      "  Pied  b?cffalo-co\\." 

Buffalo-robe,  ;/.     The  skin  of  the  buffalo  dressed  for  use. 

Bug,  n.     General  name  for  insects;  any  hard-winged  insect. 

Bugabo,  )i.     A  ghost. 

Bugabo,  ;/.      Hardened  mucus  in  a  child's  nose. 

Bugabo,  n.     A  louse. 

Buggy,  ;/.  A  light,  one  horse,  four-wheel  carriage,  with  or 
without  a  top. 

Build,  v.     To  make:  To  build  a  fire. 

Bulge,  ;/.     The  bung-diameter  of  a  barrel. 

Bulge,  :■.     To  swell  out;  not  to  indent.     To  bulge  out,  not  in. 

Bull-bat,  n.     Night-hawk;  whippoorwill. 

Bulchyn,  n.      A  young  male  calf 

Bulling,  part.      A  cow  in  heat  is  said  to  be  bulling. 

Bull-ring,  ;/.  The  word  was  used  without  any  special  meaning 
being  applied  to  it:  as,  "Come  up  to  the  bull-ring."  May 
have  some  forgotten  connection  with  bull-baiting. 

Bull-stagg,  //.     A  bull  castrated  when  half  grown  or  full  grown. 

Bully,  u.      A  large  marble. 

Bully,  adj.  Fine;  capital:  tin-  highest  term  of  commendation: 
"He  is  just  bully r 

Bull  yellin,  ;/.      Bull  yearling.     A  year  old  bull  calf. 

Bullyrag,  :■.     To  banter  or  abuse. 


Bum — Burgess.  73 

Bum,  n.      The  buttocks;   the  part  of  the  body  on   which  one 

sits. 

Bumby,  adv.     By  and  bye. 

Bump,  ?/.  A  swelling  or  protuberance;  a  large  pimple.  "  He 
always  did  have  bumps  on  his  face." 

Bump,  v.  It  was  the  custom  to  punish  the  person  who  did  not 
arrive  at  the  appointed  time,  usually  sunrise,  at  a  fox-hunt, 
by  bumping  his  backside  against  a  tree,  being  held  by  four 
men. 

Bump,  v.  (2)  To  bump  against  a  thing  is  to  strike  one's  self 
awkwardly  against  it.  "He  bumped  his  head  against  the 
table." 

Bumpy,  adj.  Covered  with  swellings,  or  large  pimples.  (2) 
Uneven;  said  of  a  rough  road. 

Bunchy,  adj.  The  clothes  gathered  in  bundles  about  the  waist. 
(2)  Short  and  stout. 

Bung,  n.  A  large  wooden  stopper  for  closing  the  bung-hole 
of  a  barrel. 

Bung-bellies,  n.  pi.  Name  given  to  black-eye  or  cornfield 
peas. 

Bungersome,  adj.     Clumsy. 

Bungle,  v.      To  act  in  a  clumsy,  or  awkward  manner. 

Bung  up,  v.  To  be  bruised  or  swollen  from  a  blow.  "His 
eyes  are  bunged  up." 

Bunny,  n.     Pet  name  for  a  squirrel. 

Bunt,  v.      For  burnt. 

Burdock,  n.  A  coarse,  broad-leafed  weed;  used  as  a  common 
remedy. 

Bureau,  n.  A  chest  of  drawers  for  holding  clothing  and  other 
articles. 

Burgess,  n.  The  representative  of  a  borough,  or  plantation 
in   the  Virginia  colonial   General  Assembly.       There  were 


74  Burly— But. 

one  or  more  from  each  place  represented,  without  regard  to 
the  numbers  represented.  This  held  untill  1830.  House  of 
Burgesses. 

Burly,  adj.     Thick;  clumsy;  big;  strong. 

Burn,  v.     To  inflame  or  tan  the  skin,  as  sunlight. 

Burn  daylight,  v.     To  light  candles  before  there  is  need;  waste 

of  time. 
Burning-shame,  //.     An  exceedingly  shamefull  action. 

Burnt  up,  v.  Parched  by  heat  and  drought;  as,  the  crops  are 
all  burnt  up. 

Burr,  n.  Burr  of  the  ear,  the  external  opening  of  the  ear.  (2) 
The  washer  placed  on  the  small  end  of  a  rivet  before  the 
end  is  swaged  down. 

Burr,  v.     To  burrow. 

Burrying,  ;/.      A  funeral. 

Burrying-ground,  ;/.     A  graveyard. 

Bush,  v.  To  line  the  hole  in  the  nave  of  a  cart-wheel  with 
wood  when  it  becomes  worn,  so  as  to  hold  the  iron  box. 

Bushelman,  n.  A  tailor's  assistant  whose  business  it  is  to 
repair  clothes.      A  tailor  who  does  odd  jobs.      A  busheller. 

Bushing,  //.     The  wooden  piece  put  in  the  nave  of  a  wheel. 

Bushy,  adj.      "  Bus hy -whiskered man"  ;  one  with  heavy  beard. 

Bussen,  />.  a.      Affected  with  rupture  or  hernia. 

Bust,  n.      A  spree:  as,  to  go  on  a  bust. 

Bust,  ;•.     To  fail  in  business. 

Buster,  ;/.     Something  of  extraordinary  size. 

Buster,  ;/.      A  crab  bursting  open  behind  and  about  to  shed. 

Bustle,  :•.  To  be  active  and  stirring;  to  move  quickly  and 
energetically. 

Bustler,  //.      One  who  bustles;  an  active,  stirring  person. 

But,  adj.      Except.      "  All  were  there  but  Tom." 


Butcher — By-gone.  75 

Butcher,  v.     To  slaughter  for  food  on  the  market. 

Butt,  n.     The  buttocks;  the  posteriors. 

Butt-cut,  n.  The  first  length  cut  off  a  tree  after  it  is  cut  down, 
usually  much  bigger  than  the  others;  also  applied  to  a  short 
thick  person. 

Butter  and  eggs,  //.     Junquel.     The  jonquil. 

Butter-and-point,  n.  When  butter  was  scarce  in  the  country 
children  were  told  not  to  eat  butter,  but  to  eat  bread  and 
point  at  the  butter. 

Butter-fingers,  ;/.     A  person  who  is  apt  to  let  things  fall. 

Butter-money,  n.  The  money  made  from  butter,  eggs,  etc., 
which  is  the  perquisite  of  the  farmer's  wife. 

Butter-piggin,  n.  A  wooden  piggin  in  which  butter  was  worked 
with  a  wooden  butter-stick. 

Butter-print,  n.  A  piece  of  wood  shaped  like  a  stamper  on 
which  some  device  is  cut,  used  for  marking  pats  of  butter. 

Butter-stick,  n.  A  paddle  three  or  four  inches  wide,  six  inch 
blade,  and  a  handle  eight  or  more  inches  long  usually  made 
of  red  cedar,  for  working  the  water  out  of  butter. 

Button-moulds,  n.  pi.  Forms  of  wood  to  be  covered  with 
the  material  to  match  the  clothing. 

Buxom,  adj.      Healthy  and  cheerful;  brisk;  lively  and  vigorous. 

Buzzards  picked  him,  v.  A  person  who  looks  dilapidated 
and  seedy,  is  said  to  "look  like  the  buzzards  had  picked 
him:' 

By  and  large,  adv.  Altogether;  in  every  aspect:  "Taken  by 
and  large  he  was  the  best  of  all  of  them." 

By  blow,  n.      An  illegitimate  child;  a  bastard. 

By-by,  interject.      Good-by. 

By-chance,  a.     An  accident. 

By-gone,;/.      Past;  gone  by.     "  Let  bygo?ies  be  bygones." 


76  By  heart— Cag. 

By  heart,  n.      By  rote;  in  the  memory:  as.  "I  get  a  lesson  by 
heart." 

By-now,  adv.     By  this  time.      "  He  has  come  by  now." 

By-path,  >/.      By-path,  a  private  footway  or  briclle-path,  or  one 
that  is  little  used. 

By-rights,   adv.      Property;    of  right.      "  He  should  be  here 

now  by  rights. ' '      '  'By  good-rights. 

By  sun,  adv.     Counting  by  the  sun;  an  hour  by  sun:  when  the 
sun  is  an  hour  high. 

By  that,  prep.     By  then.      By  that  time.      "Come  in  on  your 
way  back;  he'll  be  here  by  that." 

By  the  by,  adv.      By  the  way;  introducing  an  incidental  remark. 
"  By  the  by,  did  John  come  back  yesterday  ? ' 

By  then,  adv.     By  that  time.      "  Come  back  about  10  o'clock, 
he'll  be  here  by  then/' 

By-way,  //.     A  by-road;  an  out  of  the  way  path.      By-path. 

By- word,  n.     A   saying;    a  word   used  as  a  proverb.      "  He 
knows  all  the  by-words  in  the  country." 

C 

Cabbage,  v.     To  steal;  to  keep  possession  of  a  part  of  a  cus- 
tomer's cloth  of  which  a  garment  was  made. 

Caboodle,    n.       Crowd;    pack;    lot;    company.      The    "  whole 
eabood/e." 

Caboose,  //.      Cambouse.     The  small  house  on  board  a  vessel 
where  cooking  is  clone. 

Cackle,  v.      To  talk  in  a  silly  way. 

Cacky,  u.      Human  excrement. 

Caddow,  n.     A  quilt;  a  coverlet. 

Caddy,  n      A  box  for  keeping  tea  when  in  use. 

Cag,  n.      Kag.     A  small   wooden  barrel  for  holding  liquids;  a 
keg. 


Cahoot — Canvass.  77 

Cahoot,  n.  A  partnership  or  company:  as,  to  go  into  cahoot 
with  a  person. 

Cake,  v.     To  stick  together  in  a  concrete  mass. 

Calf,  v.  To  have  a  calf.  "The  red  cow  calfed  last  night." 
Always  pronounced  with  the  hard  c.      Cearfed. 

Call,  n.      Occasion;  obligation:  as,  he  had  no  call  to  do  it. 

Call,  v.     To  call  out  of  name;  to  call  by  improper  and  abusive 
names.      "  He  called  me  everything  he  could  lay  his  tongue 
to."      "He   called   me   shameful."       "What   do  they  call 
you  ?  "      "  What  is  your  name  ?  "     "  He  called  me  names.' ' 
"  A  negro  woman  who  calls  her  name  Sally." 

Call,  v.     To  consider:  he  is  called  a.  good  workman. 

Call  in,  v.     School  calls  in  at  9  o'clock. 

Calline,  ;/.     The  pronunciation  of  Caroline. 

Calling,  n.  Profession;  trade;  employment  or  occupation  to 
which  one  is  called  by  aptitude,  necessity,  etc.;  usual  occu- 
pation, profession,  or  employment;  vocation. 

Candle-light,  n.  The  time  at  which  candles  or  lamps  are 
lighted.  ' '  The  evening  service  will  begin  at  candle-light. ' ' 
Marriages  took  place  at  "  early  candle-light." 

Candle-moulds,  n.  pi.     A  frame  of  cylindrical  moulds  of  pew- 
ter or  tin  for  making  candles. 
Candy,  n.     .Sugar  cooked,  and  flavoured  in  many  ways. 

Canker,  n.  Verdigris,  formed  on  the  surface  of  dirty  brass 
candlesticks. 

Canker,  v.     To  corrode;  to  rust. 

Cankery,  adj.  Corroded;  rusty;  metallic.  Having  a  cankery 
taste  in  the  mouth. 

Cannister,  n.     A  small  box  for  tea,  coffee,  etc. 

Cant,  v.  To  put  or  set  at  an  angle;  to  set  up  on  edge;  to 
throw  with  a  sudden  jerk.      To  tilt  over;  upset. 

Canvass,  n.  Thick  linen  stuff,  used  for  sheets;  "  canvass- 
sheets. " 


78  Cap— Carry. 

Cap,  v.  To  put  a  sheaf  of  wheat  with  the  heads  down  over  the 
top  of  a  shock  is  to  cap  it. 

Cap,  v.  To  puzzle.  "  That  caps  me. "  (2)  To  surpass.  "He 
capped  all. 

Cape-merchant,  n.  The  man  who  had  charge  of  the  general 
store  or  magazine. 

Caper,  ;/.  A  sportive  or  capricious  action;  a  prank.  A  leap; 
a  skip  or  spring,  as  in  dancing  or  mirth. 

Caper,  v.  To  leap;  skip  or  jump;  prance.  To  cut  capers  like 
a  child. 

Cap-sheaf,  11.  A  sheaf  of  wheat  or  straw  forming  the  top  of 
the  stack. 

Captain  of  the  corn-pile.  The  negro  who  walked  up  and 
down  on  top  of  the  pile  of  corn  at  the  corn-shuckings,  led 
in  the  singing,  and  made  most  of  the  noise,  hollered  more 
than  he  shucked  corn. 

Car,  v.  Ceaar;  caire.  To  carry.  Carred;  earring.  llCaire 
this  letter  to  the  postofnee. " 

Carboy,  n.  A  demijohn.  A  large  bottle  with  a  short  neck, 
covered  with  wicker-work,  or  in  a  wooden  case. 

Carcase,;/.  The  trunk;  the  body.  "He  takes  good  care  of 
his  carcase.''' 

Card,  n.  Keard.  A  personal  statement  in  a  newspaper  over 
the  writer's  signature.  "  B  is  out  in  a  card,  explaining  his 
standing  in  the  matter." 

Card,  v.  Keard.  To  use  the  hand-cards  for  cotton  or  wool. 
T<  1  card  rolls. 

Care,  v.  To  be  concerned  so  as  to  feel  or  express  objection; 
feel  an  interest  in  opposing.     "  I  don't  care  if  he  does  come." 

Careing,  v.     Carrying.      "  For  careing  you  to  town." 

Caren,  //.     Carrion.     Carren. 

Carry,  v.     To  lead  or  conduct  in  going;  escort.      "Carry  the 


Carry  on — Catch  a  crab.  79 

horses  to  water."      "Are  you  going  to  carry  Miss  A.  to  the 
theatre?" 

Carry-on,  v.  To  complain,  or  find  fault  for  a  lengthened  pe- 
riod.    To  behave  improperly. 

Carrying-on,  ;/.  Frolicsome  or  riotous  behaviour.  Usually  in 
the  plural,  carrying s-oxv. 

Carry-log,  n.     A  set  of  very  tall  wheels  for  carrying  timber. 

Cart-body,  n.     The  wooden  body  of  a  cart. 

Case,  n.     In  case  he  should  go. 

Case,  n.  A  person  who  is  peculiar  or  remarkable  in  any  respect: 
as,  a  queer  case;  a  hard  case;  sometimes  without  qualifica- 
tion: as,  he  is  a  case. 

Case-bottle,  n.     A  bottle,  often  square  in  shape,  made  to  fit 

in  a  case  with  others. 
Case-hardened,  p.  a.      Figuratively,  not  sensitive;  having  no 

sense  of  shame;  indifferent  to  reproof  or  dishonor. 

Case-knife,  n.     A  table  knife  kept  in  a  wooden  knife-case. 

Cash,  n.     A  receptacle  for  money:  a  money-box. 

Cast,  n.  Motion  or  turn  of  the  eye;  direction,  look  or  glance; 
hence,  a  slight  squint:  as,  to  have  a  cast  in  one's  eye. 
Opaque  spots  on  the  cornea.  May  come  from  these  spots 
having  a  tendency  to  cause  squint. 

Cast,  n.     Tinge;  a  slight  shade  of  colouring:  as,  a  cast  of  green. 

Cast-away,  v.     A  ship  when  lost  is  said  to  be  cast-away. 

Castor,  n.     Caster.     A  beaver  hat;  made  of  beaver  fur. 

Catalpa,  n.     Catawba.     An  ornamental  tree. 

Cat-bird,  n.     A  bird  of  the  thrush  family. 

Cat-briar,  n.     A  kind  of  bramble,  the  briars  of  which  are  like 

the  claws  of  a  cat. 
Catch,  ;;.     The  quantity  of  fish  taken  at  one  time. 

Catch  a  crab,  v.  To  catch  the  blade  of  the  oar  in  the  water 
in  an  awkward  manner  when  rowing. 


80  Catching— Cave. 

Catching,  adj.      Infectious;  contagious.       "He  has  got  some 

catching  disease  or  other. 
Catercornered,  adj.      Diagonal;  cut  from  corner  to  corner  ot 

a  square;  irregular  in  shape. 
Cat-hammed,  adj.     Said  of  a    horse  that  has  very  crooked 

hind  legs. 
Cat-hole,  n:     A  very  deep  place  in  any  body  of  water,  either 

pond,  creek  or  river. 

Cat-nap,  ;/.  Short  intervals  of  sleep.  "He  does  not  sleep 
much  at  night  but  takes  cat-ndps  in  the  day." 

Catnip,  n.  A  plant  stimulant  and  tonic,  a  domestic  remedy  for 
various  ailments.      Given  as  a  tea  to  new-born  children. 

Catooch,  n.     A  cartridge  box. 

Cat's-cradle,  ;/.  A  children's  game  played  by  two  with  a 
looped  string. 

Cat's  foot.     An  expression  of  dissent  or  disapproval. 

Cat's-paw,  n.     Small  patch  of  ripple  on  the  water  from  a  slight 

breeze. 
Cat-tail,  n.      Name  given  to  a  water  plant  the  spike  of  which 

is  long  and  furry  like  a  cat's  tail. 

Cattle,  ;/.      Human  beings,  in  contempt  or  ridicule. 

Caul,  ;/.  "You  were  born  with  a  caul  over  your  face."  A 
sign  of  prosperity,  and  its  possessor  was  safe  from  drown- 
ing. 

Caution,  //.  Security,  as  one  became  caution  for  the  appear- 
ance of  another,  or  for  the  payment  of  a  sum  of  money. 

Caution,  >i.  Something  to  excite  alarm  or  astonishment;  some- 
thing extraordinary.  "  The  way  they  ran  was  a  caution." 
"  I  le's  a  caution." 

Cap,  ;/.      A  piece  of  leather  put  on  the  toe  of  a  shoe. 
Cave,:'.     To  breakdown;  yield;  give  up;  submit.      "  He  caved 
in."      Said  also  of  earth  that  tails  down  when  dug  in  a  bank. 


Cavort — Chance.  81 

Cavort,  v.     To  prance  about;  said  of  a  horse.     To  bustle  about 
nimbly;  said  of  a  person. 

Ceapp,  n.     Sheep.      "The  ccapp  in  Confversie  betweene  Mrs. 
L.  and  Robt°  W.  shalbe  sheared  equally." 

Cearfullie,  adv.     For  carefully. 

Ceart,  n.     Cart.      Hard  c.     A  two  wheel  vehicle  for  hauling, 
generally  used  with  one  horse. 

Cearr,  v.     Carr.     To  carry.      "You  can't  carr  more  than  two 
bushels  in  that  bag. :' 

Cedar-bird,  n.     A  small  bird  that  feeds  on  cedar  berries. 

Cedar-pencil,  n.     Lead-pencil  used  for  writing. 

Cellar-cap,  n.     Small  roofed   cover  over  the  door  leading  to 
the  cellar. 

Certain,  adv.     Certainly;  assuredly.      "'Tis  certain  so." 

Certain   sure,  adv.     Without  doubt  or  question;  without  fail; 
in  truth  and  fact. 

Certny,  adv.     Certainly.      "  He'll  certny  come  tomorrow." 

Chaff,  v.     To  assail  with  sarcastic  raillery;  banter;  make  game 

of;  tease;  worry;  joke. 
Chafing-dish,  n.     A  portable  grate  for  coals.     A  dish  with  a 

lamp  under  it  for  keeping  food  warm,  or  cooking. 

Chalk,  n.     Not  by  a  long  chalk;  not  on  any  account;  not  by 

any  means;  not  at  all. 
Chalk  for  cheese.     One  thing  for  another. 

Chalk   line,  ;/.     A  small  line  used  by  carpenters  for  making 
long  marks  to  saw  by. 

Charmber,  n.     For  chamber.     Pronounced  with  broad  a. 

Charmber,  n.      A  chamber-pot. 

Charmber-lye,  ;/.      Urine. 

Chance,   )i.      A  considerable  but  uncertain  number.       "He's 
got  a  right  smart  chance  of  children." 


82  Change— Cheatery. 

Change,  n.     The  balance  of  money  returned  after  a  purchase 
is  made. 

Changes,  >i.  pi.     Suits  oi    clothes.      "  How  many  changes  of 
clothes  have  you  got." 

Channel-crab, /?.     A  large,  fullgrown  crab.     " Chandler-crab. ' ' 

Chaney,  ;/.     Chainy.     Chinaware. 

Character,  ;/.      A  person  of  marked  peculiarities;  an  odd  per- 
son:  as,   "  He  was  a  character. " 

Charger,  ?/.     Contrivance  for  measuring  and  putting  into  a  gun 
a  load  of  powder  or  shot. 

Charn,  >/.      Churn. 

Chary,  adj.     Sparing;  not  lavish;  not  disposed  to  give  freely. 

Chase,  >i.      A  fox-hunt.      "  We  had  a  good  chase  to-day  and 
caught  the  fox." 

Chat,  ;/.      Free,  informal  talk. 

Chat,  ;/.      To  converse  in  a  familiar  way;  talk   without  form  or 
ceremony. 

Chattel,  n.     Cattel;  cattle. 

Chatter,  ;•.      To    talk    thoughtlessly,    idly,   or    rapidly;  jabber; 
gal  'Me. 

Chatty,  adj.     Entertaining  in  style;  unconventional;  easy. 

Chaumber,  ;/.     Chaamber.     A   room  oi  a  dwelling  house;  a 
sleeping  room.     Charmber. 

Chaw,  v.     To  bite  and  grind  with  the  teeth. 

Chaw-bacon,  >i.     A  countryman. 

Cheapen,  v.     To  beat  down  the  price. 

Cheaply,  adv.      At  a  small  price;  at  a  low  cost. 

Cheat,  n.      A  person  who  cheats. 

Cheat,  n.     Darnel,  a  deleterious  grass  growing  among  wheat. 

Cheatery,;/.      Deception;  (heating.     "  All  kinds  of  cheatery.'1 


Checks— Chile.  83 

Checks,  n.  A  game  among  children,  in  which  five  marbles  are 
thrown  and  caught  on  the  back  of  the  hand:  or  one  is 
thrown  up,  and  before  it  is  caught  as  it  falls  the  others  are 
picked  up,  or  placed  in  ones,  twos,  threes,  or  fours. 

Check  apron,  n.  An  apron  made  of  checks,  cotton  goods  of 
narrow  blue  and  white  stripes  at  right  angles,  worn  by  women 
while  indoors  and  engaged  in  household  matters. 

Cheek,  n.  Cool  confidence;  brazen  faced  impudence;  an  impu- 
dent manner. 

Cheeky,  adj.     Impudent;  brazen-faced;  self-confident. 
Cheer,  n.     Chair.     Chear.     Chers. 

Cheesecake,  n.  Used  for  the  name  of  a  church  called  after  a 
tribe  of  Indians  at  that  place;  Kiskyake,  Cheescake,  Chis- 
cake. 

Chermany,  //.     A  boys'  game  with  a  ball  and  bats. 

Cherry-bounce,  n.  Made  by  steeping  cherries  in  brandy  with 
sugar. 

Cherup,  v.  To  urge  on  by  cherupping.  A  noise  made  with 
the  lips  to  urge  on  a  horse. 

Cheshire-cat,  n.  A  cat  with  a  broad  grin  on  his  face,  and 
applied  to  a  person  always  laughing.  "He  was  grinning 
like  a  'Cheshire-cat.'  " 

Chicken,  n.  A  person  of  tender  years;  a  child;  used  with  a 
negative  in  satirical  implication  of  mature  age.  "  She's  no 
chicken" 

Chicken-hearted,  adj.     Timid;  without  courage. 

Chicken-weed,  n.  A  weed  the  seeds  of  which  are  mixed  with 
chickens'  food  as  a  remedy. 

Chigger,  n.  A  small,  red  ocarus  or  tick  that  buries  itself  in 
the  skin. 

Childern,  n.  pi.     Children. 

Chile,?/.      Child.      "  Fetch  that  chile  here." 


84  Chill— Chink. 

Chill,  it.  To  take  the  chill  off,  is  to  warm  a  cold  liquid  to  an 
agreeable  warmth. 

Chiller,  adj.  Chillier;  colder.  "Oysters  will  be  better  when 
the  weather  is  chiller." 

Chilled,  past  part.  Cold.  "  The  wind  is  very  cold,  and  lam 
thoroughly  chilled." 

Chills,  n.      Intermittent  fever. 

Chimbly,  n.     Chimney.      Chimbley;  C himly. 

Chimbly-back,  n.  A  large,  iron  plate  at  the  back  of  the  fire- 
place where  wood  fires  are  used,  to  protect  the  bricks,  and 
to  throw  out  the  heat. 

Chimbly-jam,  n.     The  inside  wall  of  a  fireplace. 

Chimbly-pole,  >i.  In  clay  chimneys  a  pole  is  put  across  some 
distance  above  the  fire  on  which  the  chain  was  fastened  to 
hang  pots  on  when  cooking  was  done. 

Chimley-crook, ;/.  In  the  old  kitchen  chimneys  a  chain  swang 
to  which  pots  were  hung  by  means  of  the  crook,  or  hook, 
when  cooking  was  carried  on. 

Chimney-corner,  ;/.      Fireside;  a  place  near  the  fire. 

Chimney-hook,  n.  A  hook  hanging  from  the  bar  for  holding 
pots  and  kettles  oven  the  open  fire.     Chimney-rack. 

China-press,  ;/.      A  cupboard  for  china. 

China-tree,  >i.     Pride  of  china. 

Chinch,  ;/.      Bed  bug.      Cimex.     Spanish  chinche. 

Chinching,  adj.     Miserly;  niggardly.      "A  chinching  rogue." 

Chine,  n.     The  backbone  of  a  hog  cut  for  cooking. 

Chine,  n.  The  edge  of  a  barrel  formed  by  the  ends  of  the 
ends  of  the  staves  beyond  the  head.     Chime. 

Chine-hoops,  ;/.  The  two  end  hoops  on  a  cask,  that  cover 
the  chine,  usually  much  stouter  than  the  others. 

Chink,  n.      Money. 


Chink— Chop.  85 

Chink,  ;/.     A  crack;  a  gap:  as,  the  chinks  of  a  wall. 

Chink,  v.  To  fill  up  chinks  in:  as,  to  chink  the  side  of  a  log- 
house;  with  clay  or  mortar. 

Chink,  v.     To  caulk. 

Chinkapen,  n.     The  nut  of  a  tree  like  a  chestnut,  but  smaller. 

Chinkapen-whistle,  n.  A  boy's  whistle  made  from  the  sappy 
sprout  of  chinkapen.  The  bark  is  loosened  by  rubbing, 
and  pulled  off  the  wood,  then  made  into  a  whistle. 

Chip,  v.  To  break  or  crack.  An  egg  is  chipped  when  the 
chicken  breaks  the  shell.     (2)  To  chop;  to  cut  with  an  axe. 

Chisel,  v.     To  cheat. 

Chism,  ;/.      Chissum.     Seminal  fluid. 

Chist,  n.     A  form  of  chest. 

Chit,  ;/.     A  pert  young  girl. 

Chitling,  n.  Hog's  intestines  prepared  for  food,  linked  into 
knots  and  boiled,  then  put  into  vinegar. 

Choaty,  adj.  Fat;  chubby,  used  of  children.  '  Choaty 
Brown." 

Chock,  v.  To  wedge.  Barrels  are  chocked  to  prevent  their 
rolling.     Chock,  n.     A  wedge  used  for  chocking. 

Chockful,  adj.     Full  to  the  utmost. 

Chock-up,  adj.  Close;  tight;  said  of  a  thing  that  fits  closely 
to  another. 

Choice,  adj.      Dainty;  fastidious. 

Chokey,  adj.     Tending  to  choke  or  suffocate. 

Chomp,  v.     To  chew  loudly;  as  when  a  horse  chews  hard  on  a 

bit. 
Chop,  n.     Cleft  or  crack  in  the  hands  or  face. 

Chop,  v.  To  mark  a  tree  by  making  three  chops  with  an  axe 
on  each  side,  showing  the  boundary  between  tracks  of  land. 
Line-trees  are  chopped  every  three  years  by  law. 

Chop,  v.     To  crack;  open  in  slits.     The  hands  chop. 


N'>  Chop — Churm. 

Chop,?-.      To   make  a  sudden  retrograde  movement.      "The 

wind  chopped 'round  to  the  nor'rard." 

Chopfallen,  adj.     Dejected;  dispirited;  silenced. 

Chops,  ;/.  pi.     The  upper  or  lower  part  of  the  mouth;  the  jaws. 

Chouse,  v.  To  cheat;  swindle.  He  choused  him  out  of  his 
money. 

Christyde,  n.     Christmas. 

Chubby,  adj.     Round  and  plump. 

Chutch,  )i.     Church. 

Chuck.     Word  for  calling  hogs.      Chok.      Chook. 

Chuck,  v.  To  pat  playfully;  give  a  familiar  blow  to.  Chuck  a 
child  under  the  chin. 

Chucklehead,  n.     A  large  or  thick  head;  adunce;  anumskull. 

Chuckle-headed,  adj.     Stupid. 

Chuffy,  adj.      Blunt;  rude;  surly. 

Chuffy,  adj.      Fat,  plump,  or  round,  especially  the  cheeks. 

Chum,  n.      Intimate  friend;  crony. 

Chune,  n.     A  tune. 

Chunk,  n.     A   short,   thick    piece  of  anything.       A  chunk  of 

wood.      A  chunk  of  meat. 

Chunk,  v.  To  throw  stones  or  sticks  at  one.  (2)  To  punch 
or  poke  the  fire  with  a  stick  or  poker.  "You'll  put  the 
fire  out  chunking  it  so  much." 

Chunk-of-fire,  n.  The  burning  end  of  a  chunk  of  wood.  Fire 
was  carried  in  chunks  from  one  place  to  another  before 
matches  came  into  use. 

Chunky,  adj.     Short  and  thick.      A  chunky  person. 

Church-mouse,  >i.  A  mouse  supposed  to  live  in  a  church, 
where  there  is  nothing  for  it  to  eat.  "Poor  as  a  church- 
mouse.  " 

Churm,//.      Form  of  churn.      Chirme. 


Churm — Clapboard.  87 

Churm,  v.  The  process  of  getting  butter  from  milk  by  agita- 
tion. 

Churm-dasher,  n.  A  staff  with  a  flat  disk  with  holes  bored 
in  it  at  one  end  used  in  an  upright  churm.  The  dasher  is 
of  ash,  a  wood  dedicated  to  Wodin.  (?)     The  staff  of  oak. 

Chusen,  n.  (?)     May  be  an  Indian  word  for  a  kind  of  fish. 

Cinder-tea,  n.  Sweetened  warm  water  into  which  a  live  fire- 
coal  has  been  dropped;  given  to  babies  for  colic. 

Cipher,  n.     The  character  of  the  form  o. 

Cipher,  v.     To  reckon  in  figures.     To  cipher-out. 

Ciphering,;/.  Arithmetic.  "I  have  to  learn  my  ciphering 
the  first  thing  in  the  morning."  "  He  has  learnt  reading, 
writing  and  ciphering  at  school." 

Circumbendibus,  n.     A  roundabout  way. 

Circumstance,  n.  Not  a  circumstance,  nothing  in  comparison; 
a  thing  of  no  account. 

Circumstances,  n.  pi.  A  person's  worldly  estate,  or  condition 
of  wealth  or  poverty;  fortune;  means;  generally  in  the  plu- 
ral.     "  In  good  circumstances." 

Citified,  adj.  Having  the  peculiarities  and  appearance  of  resi- 
dents in  cities. 

Clabber,  n.     Curdled  milk.      Bonnyclabber.     Clobber. 

Clam,  v.     To  ascend  by  both  feet  and  hands.     To  climb. 

Clammy,  adj.      Damp;  moist:  as,  imperfectly  dried  clothes. 

Clap,  v.  To  clap  eyes  on.  To  look  at;  see.  "  As  soon  as  I 
dapped  eyes  on  her  I  knew  who  she  was." 

Clap,  v.  To  sprinkle  light  articles  of  clothing  with  water  be- 
fore being  ironed;  in  order  to  dampen  them  equally  they 
are  clapped  between  the  hands  several  times.     To  pat. 

Clapboard,  n.  A  roofing  board  about  4  feet  long  and  8  inches 
wide,  riven  from  a  log  by  splitting  it  from  the  centre  out- 
wards, not  quartered,  with  a  froe  in  a  break. 


88  Clapper — Clever. 

Clapper,  n.  An  instrument  made  of  two  pieces  of  thin  wood, 
and  used  to  scare  birds  away.  (2)  Part  of  the  hopper  of  a 
mill.      (3)  Tongue  of  a  bell;  bell-clapper. 

Clark,  n.     Writer  of  a  court.     Clerk.     Clarke. 

Clash,  n.     Idle  talk.      ' '  What  is  all  that  clash  going  on  about  ?  ' 

Clatter,  n.  Idle  gossip.  Fast  and  idle  talk;  rattle  with  the 
tongue;  confusion;  talk  or  gabble.     Confused  noise. 

Claw,  n.     The  human  hand. 

Claw,  v.  Snatch;  handle;  lay  hold  of  roughly.  "They 
clawed  over  everything  as  soon  as  it  came  in  reach." 

Clayey,  adj.      Like  clay;  abounding  in  clay. 

Clean,  adv.  Quite;  perfectly;  wholly;  entirely;  fully.  "The 
shot  went  clean  through  both  sides  of  the  house." 

Clean,  v.     To  fan  chaff  and  dirt  out  of  wheat  is  to  clean  it. 

Clear,  adj.  Free  from  dilution;  as,  "clear  brandy."  Free 
from  defect:  as,  "  clear  lumber;  "  K>  clea r  heart." 

Clear,  v.     To  make  room;  go  away:  as,  to  clear  out. 

Clear-headed,  adj.     Sagacious. 

Clear  of  the  world,  plir.     Free  from  debt. 

Clearing,  n.  A  small  piece  of  land  from  which  the  trees  have 
been  cut,  and  planted  in  corn,  tobacco  and  vegetables. 

Clearing-off,  adj.  The  clearing-off shower  is  the  one  that  ends 
the  spell  of  rainy  weather. 

Clear-sighted,  adj.  Having  acute  mental  discernment;  judi- 
cious. 

Clench,  n.  ?     "  One  clench  of  the  door." 

Clerking,  part.     Acting  as  a  clerk,  or  salesman.     To  clerk,  v. 

Clever,  adj.  Good-natured;  obliging;  possessing  an  agreeable 
mind  or  disposition.      Pretty.      Handsome;  healthy;  tall. 

Clever,  adj.  Suitable;  agreeable;  of  advantage:  as,  "A  rich 
relation  promised  to  do  something  clever  for  them." 


Clevis— Close.  89 

Clevis,  n.  A  cuff  at  the  end  of  the  plough-beam,  to  which  the 
singletree  is  fastened.  PI.  Clevises.  Clevy.  Clevvy. 
Clevyses. 

Climb  down,  v.  To  descend  slowly  and  with  difficulty:  as, 
' '  I  saw  him  climbing  dozen  the  tree. 

Clinch,  v.  To  fasten  a  nail  or  staple  by  beating  down  the  points 
after  going  through. 

Clincher,  n.  A  retort  or  reply  so  decisive  as  to  close  a  contro- 
versy. 

Clinker-built,  n.  A  boat  built  with  the  upper  plank  edges 
lapping  over  the  lower. 

Clip,  n.     A  smart  blow.      "  I  gave  him  a  clip  over  the  head." 

Clip,  n.  A  quick  motion,  or  short  space  of  time.  "  Four  dol- 
lars saved  to  you  at  one  clip.'" 

Clipping,  part.  Swift;  as,  a  clipping-pace;  smart;  showy; 
first-rate. 

Cloak,  v.     To  protect  from  discovery. 

Clocked  stockings,  n.  pi.  They  had  on  each  side,  rising 
about  six  inches  above  the  ankle,  a  flowery  pattern  of  raised 
work;  the  clocking  of  different  colour  from  the  stockings, 
or  the  clocking  knit  with  a  different  stitch. 

Clod,  v.     To  pelt  with  clods;  to  throw  lumps  of  dirt. 

Cloddy,  adj.     Abounding  with  clods. 

Clod-hopper,  n.     A  farmer's  labourer. 

Clog,  v.     To   choke   up;    obstruct  so  as   to   hinder  a   passage 

through.      ' '  Clogged  up  with  dirt. 
Cloggy,  adj.     Clogging  or  having  the  power  to  clog;  adhesive; 

obstructive. 
Close,  adj.     Sultry,  still  weather.      "It  is  very  close  to-day,  it 

is  going  to  rain." 
Close,  adj.      Near;  parsimonious.      "He  is  as  close  as  wax." 

Miserly! 


90  Close-body-coat— Co. 

Close-body-coat,  ;/.  A  coat  fitting-  close  to  the  body.  Not  a 
"sack." 

Close-fisted,  adj.      Miserly;  niggardly;  penurious. 

Closet,  ;/.  A  small  room  for  storing  utensils,  clothing,  provis- 
ions. 

Clothes-press,  n.     A  wardrobe. 

Clotty,  adj.     Full  of  clots,  or  small,  hard  masses. 

Clout,  n.  Any  piece  of  cloth:  as,  as  a  baby's  clout;  or,  one 
designed  for  a  mean  use:  as,  a  dishclout;  a  rag. 

Clout,  ;/.      A  blow  with  the  hand;  a  cuff. 

Cloy,  v.  To  satiate;  gratify  to  repletion  so  as  to  cause  loathing; 
surfeit.      "These  preserves  are  too  sweet,  they  cloy.'" 

Cluck,  v.  To  make  a  sound  between  the  tongue  and  teeth  to 
make  a  horse  go  faster.  Also,  a  sound  made  between  the 
the  tip  of  the  tongue  and  the  inside  of  the  front  teeth  as  a 
sign  of  dissent  and  disappreciation.  May  be  a  relic  of  the 
African  "  cluck." 

Clucker,  >i.  An  oyster  that  has  been  kept  so  long  out  of  the 
water  as  to  lose  its  liquor,  and  sounds  hollow  when  the  shell 
is  struck,  is  called  a  "  clucker." 

Clucking,  v.     A  hen  wishing  to  set  makes  the  noise  clucking. 

Clum,  v.      Climbed. 

Clump,  ii.      A  cluster;  a  small  group  of  persons  or  things. 

Clumse,  >i.      A  stupid,  awkward  person.     "  What  a  great  clumse 

you  arc. 

Clunk,  ;/.  Large,  irregular  lump.  "  Clunk  of  sut  in  the  stove- 
pipe." 

Cluster,  a.  A  number  of  things  forming  a  mass.  "The  cher- 
ries hang  in  great  clusters"      Cluster-roses. 

Clutch,  v.     To  grasp  tightly;  sieze  or  grasp  strongly. 

Co.,  ;/.  for  in  company.  "There  were  two  of  them  in  co. 
together." 


Coasters — Cod.  91 

Coasters,  n.  pi.     Vessels  sailing  and  trading  coastwise. 
Coasting-coat,  n.     Coursing-coat;  a  hunting  or  coursing-coat. 
Coats,  n.  pi.     Women's  outer  garments.      Petticoats. 

Coat-tail,  ;/.  The  whole  skirt  of  a  woman's  dress  from  the 
waist.  "  They  went  about  in  the  rain  with  their  coat-tails 
over  their  heads. ' ' 

Cob,  v.     To  beat  on  the  buttocks  with  a  board. 

Cobay,  ;/.     Call  for  calves. 

Cobbing-board,  n.     A  wooden  paddle  for  cobbing  one  on  the 

buttocks. 
Cobwebby,  adj.     Abounding  with  cobwebs. 

Cockcrow,  )i.     Daybreak.      "  I  was  up  before  cockcrow." 

Cocket,  n.  Cockquet.  A  scroll  of  parchment  sealed  and  de- 
livered by  the  officers  of  the  custom-house  to  a  merchant  as 
a  warrant  that  his  merchandise  is  entered. 

Cockeyed,  adj.     One  eye  looking  out. 

Cock-fighting,  n.  "That  beats  cock-jig  hting;'  to  surpass 
everything;  to  go  beyond  expectation^ 

Cockle,  ;/.     To  round  clam. 

Cockle,  n.  A  weed  that  grows  in  wheat;  corn-rose,  or  corn- 
cockle; the  small,  black  seeds  that  grow  in  a  capsule. 

Cockle-burr,  n.     A  weed  filled  with  burrs.     Sheepburr. 

Cockles   of  the  heart,  v.  pi.     The  innermost  recesses  of  the 

heart. 
Cock-loft,  n.     A  garret. 

Cocky,  adj.     Pert;  conceited;  self-confident. 

Cocoa-nut,  ;/.  Made  by  sawing  off  one  fourth  of  the  stem- 
end  of  a  cocoa-nut  shell,  a  handle  a  foot  long  is  made  by 
putting  a  stick  through  holes  bored  near  the  edge.  It  is 
used  for  dipping  water  out  of  a  water-can. 

Cod,  n.  The  inmost  recess  of  a  bay  or  sea;  also  of  a  marsh; 
"the  cod  or  farthermost  part  of  it."  "The  line  of  the 
property  crossing  the  cod  of  the  marsh." 


92  Coddle— Coloury. 

Coddle,  v.     To  boil  gently;  to  stew. 

Codger,  ;/.     An  old  fellow;  an  odd  person. 

Cods,  n.  pi.     Testicles. 

Cold-bread,  n.     Bread  not  warm;  stale  bread. 

Cold-harbour,  ;/.  A  protection  at  a  wayside  for  travellers  who 
are  benighted,  where  they  found  shelter  and  a  lodging  place; 
no  food  was  supplied,  but  means  to  cook  what  the  traveller 
had;  he  used  his  own  bedding,  and  feed  might  be  had  for 
his  animals.  Such  places  were  established  by  the  Romans 
on  their  military  roads  in  England,  and  occupied  by  travel- 
lers until  inns  were  used.  The  name  came  thence  into 
eastern  Virginia. 

Cold-snap,  n.     A  short  cold  spell  of  weather. 

Colicky,  adj.  Causing  colic:  as,  "Green  apples  are  very 
colicky." 

Collar,  v.  To  sieze  by  the  collar.  "The  policeman  collared 
him  and  took  him  off." 

Collar-beam,  n.  A  piece  of  timber  between *the  two  legs  of  a 
rafter  some  distance  above  the  foot  to  keep  them  from  spread- 
ing. 

Collard,  n.     A  cabbage. 

Collards,  //.  pi.  The  leaves  that  grow  on  a  cabbage  stalk  after 
the  head  has  been  cut  off,  and  the  stalk  left  in  the  ground. 
Collard-leaf. 

Colleague,  v.     To  combine  for  a  common  end. 

Collogue,  v.  To  join  together,  in  a  bad  sense,  in  league  or 
conversation.  "  They  were  colloguing  together  for  some- 
time" 

Coloury,  adj.      Having  a  colour  characteristic  of  good  quality. 
'  Fine  coloury  tobacco  21  cts.  a  pound. "      "  Coloury  coffee, ' ' 
of  a  bright  bluish  tint. 


Colonel — Comeatable.  93 

Colonel,  ii.  It  does  not  seem  that  the  title  of  Colonel  before 
the  Revolutionary  war  was  used  as  an  honorary  or  derisive 
title.  From  the  earliest  colonial  times  there  were  military 
expeditions  against  Indians,  and  defenses  against  foreign 
attacks  from  the  sea.  When  the  inhabitants  increased  mak- 
ing the  formation  of  separate  governments  distant  from 
Jamestown  necessary,  counties  were  formed  after  the  manner 
of  English  shires  with  a  county-lieutenant  at  the  head  of 
each  county.  He  was  usually  a  colonel,  at  the  head  of  the 
civil  as  well  as  military  affairs.  Then  colonels,  lieu- 
tenant-colonels, majors,  captains,  lieutenants  and  ensigns 
were  added  for  the  military  organizations.  The  members 
of  the  Council  were  colonels  or  of  other  high  military  title 
as  they  were  of  the  principal  men  of  the  colony.  The  house 
of  Burgesses  were  largely  made  up  of  men  of  military  titles. 
So,  Virginians  seem  to  have  had  a  right  to  titles  that  have 
since  fallen  into  contempt,  as  being  used  or  claimed  by  men 
who  have  no  right  to  them  whatever. 

Comb,  ;/.     The  ridge  of  a  roof. 

Comb,  v.  Instead  of  combing  the  hair  they  always  comb  the 
head. 

Combing,  n.  The  ridge  of  a  roof.  "The  boy  was  astraddle 
of  the  combing  when  they  saw  him." 

Combustion,  n.     Tumult;  violent  agitation  with  much  noise. 

Come,  v.  The  forming  of  butter  in  a  churn  after  the  proper 
churning.  "  Has  the  butter  come  yet,  you've  been  churn- 
ing at  it  long  enough." 

Come,  v.  Never  used  in  the  sense  of  going  from  one  place  to 
another.      ' '  Go  home  with  me, ' '  not  ' '  come  home  with  me. 

Come  about,  v.  To  happen;  take  place.  "How  did  that 
come-about  ? ' ' 

Comeatable,  adj.  Capable  of  being  approached  or  come  at: 
that  may  be  reached,  attained,  or  procured. 


94  Come-back — Complete. 

Come-back,  v.  Of  the  dead,  to  appear  after  death.  "  Old 
Brown  died  last  month  but  he  came  back."  '  Do  you  know 
that  Mrs.  A.  who  died  last  week  has  come  back." 

Come-back,  ;/.     The  cry  of  the  guinea-fowl. 

Come -by,  v.     To  obtain.      "  How  did  you  come-by  that  horse." 

Come-down,  n.     A  fall,  or  downfall;  a  set-back. 

Come  in,  v.  To  be  brought  into  use:  as,  "  Everything  to  read 
comes  in. ' ' 

Come-off,  11.  Evasion;  escape;  means  of  escape.  "  It  was  a 
great  come-off. ' ' 

Come  out,  v.  How  did  you  come  out?'  How  did  you  fare 
in  your  undertaking. 

Comers,  ;/.  pi.  Visitors;  there  are  comers  and  goers  all  the 
time. 

Come-up,  inter/.     Said  to  horses  to  urge  them  on. 

* 

Comfort,  ;/.      A  thickly  wadded  and  quilted  bed-cover. 

Comfort,  n.  A  knitted  or  crochetted  woolen  scarf,  long  and 
narrow,  for  tying  around  the  neck  in  cold  weather. 

Comfrey,  n.  A  plant  so  called  with  reference  to  its  medicinal 
qualities. 

Comical,  adj.  Odd  in  appearance;  having  some  peculiarity. 
"  He  is  a  comical  looking  person." 

Commissionate,  v.  To  give  a  commission;  to  appoint  or  em- 
power a  person  to  act  for  another. 

Commissioner,  ?i.     A  justice  of  the  peace. 

Commons,  h.  pi.  Provisions.  "Short  commons,"  a  scant 
supply. 

Complain,  v.  To  speak  of  ailing.  "  He  is  always  complain- 
ing . 

Complected,  adj.      A  certain  complexion;  as,  dark  complected. 
Complete,  adj.      "Complete  horse,"  a  stallion. 


Composant — Contraption.  95 

Composant,  n.  A  ball  of  fire  seen  on  a  ship's  rigging  on  a 
stormy  night. 

Conceit,  n.  Opinion;  fancy;  liking;  prejudice.  Out  of  con- 
ceit with  a  person  or  thing;  not  having  a  favourable  opinion; 
no  longer  pleased. 

Concern,  n.  A  sort  of  business.  "The  concern  does  not 
seem  to  be  doing  well." 

Concerned,/),  part.      Interested  in  a  certain  business. 

Conch,  n.     A  large  marine  shell. 

Conclude,  v.  To  decide.  "  So  he  concluded  to  stay  in  the 
house  all  day." 

Confab,  n.      Familiar  talk  or  conversation.     Chat. 

Congy,  n.     Congee.      A  bow  or  a  courtesy. 

Conjuration,  ;/.     A  magic  spell;  an  enchantment. 

Conjure,  v.  Cunjur.  To  practice  the  art  of  a  conjurer;  to 
use  arts  to  engage  the  aid  of  supernatural  agents. 

Conanny.     A  sheep  call. 

Conniption  fit,  n.      Hysterics  or  tantrums. 

Consequence,  //,  A  matter  of  very  little  consequence;  of  little 
importance. 

Consider,  v.  .To  regard  in  a  particular  light;  judge  to  be; 
take  for:  as,  "I  consider  him  a  rascal." 

Considerable,  adj.     A  good  deal. 

Considering, />#/-/.  Viewing  carefully;  taking  everything  into 
consideration.      "  He  does  very  well  considering." 

Constancy,  n.  To  make  a  practice  of  doing  something.  '  I 
dont  do  it  as  a  constancy." 

Consumpted,  past  part.  Suffering  with  consumption.  I  always 
thought  she  was  consumpted. 

Contraption,  n.  A  contrivance;  New  and  peculiar  things; 
device. 


96  Contrary-Cooner. 

Contrary,  adj.  Disagreeable;  stubborn;  crossgrained ;  contra- 
dictory. He  will  not  do  one  thing  nor  another.  "  He  is 
just  as  contrary  as  he  can  be."      Contrairy. 

Contrive,  v.  To  contrive  a  thing  is  to  send  it  to  the  person. 
"  It  I  see  anybody  going  that  way  I  will  try  to  contrive  the 
bundle  to  him."     To  manage  by  a  device,  plan  or  scheme. 

Contrive,  v.  To  imagine;  find  out.  (2)  A  mild  oath.  Con- 
trive that  boy. 

Contrivance,  n.  The  thing  contrived,  planned,  or  invented; 
a  device,  especially  a  mechanical  one;  an  artifice;  a  scheme; 
stratagem. 

Convenient,  adj.      Near.      "  He  lives  convenient  to  town." 

Coob,  n.     Coop,  a  small  building  for  fowls.      "  Chicken-«><?<£. " 

Coob  up,  v.  To  coop  up;  confine  for  space.  "The  children 
have  been  coobed  up  in  the  house  all  day  with  the  rain." 

Coochee,  //.  Word  used  for  calling  chickens.  Contraction 
from  come  chick.  (  ?  ) 

Coodle,  n.     A  terrapin. 

Coohees,  ;/./>/.  Of  Scotch  origin  "Ouo'he."  Coohees  was 
the  nickname  applied  10  people  in  western  Virginia,  while 
those  in  the  east  were  called  "Tuckahoes." 

Cook-woman,  n.     A  cook. 

Cookey,  n.  A  small,  thin  cake  made  of  corn-meal  and  milk 
and  cooked  on  a  griddle. 

Cool,  adj.  Absolute;  round;  used  in  speaking  of  a  sum  ol 
money.      "A  cool  hundred  dollars  it  cost  me." 

Cool-headed,  adj.  Not  easily  excited  or  confused;  possessing 
clear  and  calm  judgement;   not  acting  hastily  or  rashly. 

Coon,  n.  A  sly,  knowing  person.  "A  coon's  age,"  a  long 
time.      "A  gone  coon"  one  who  is  in  a  very  bad  way. 

Coon-oyster,  n.     A  small  oyster. 

Coonner,  //.  A  canoe.  Hard  to  express  by  letters.  Not 
cunner,  nor  cornier. 


Coop — Corn-cob.  97 

Coop.  Word  used  for  calling  a  horse.  Contraction  for  "  come 
up."      Cope. 

Coot,  n.     A  water  fowl.      "As  bald  as  a  coot." 

Cooter,  n.      A  terrapin. 

Cope,  v.     To  strive  or  contend;  meet  in  combat;  oppose. 

Copee-pee-pee.     A  call  used  for  turkeys. 

Coo-wench.  A  word  used  for  calling  cows,  repeated  several 
times. 

Copsil,  n.  A  cuff  at  the  end  of  a  plough  beam  to  which  the 
singletree  is  fastened.      Copsal. 

Cord,  n.     A  cord  of  wood  is  8  ft.  long,  4  ft.  high  and  4  ft.  thick. 

Corded-bed,  n.  Bedstead  with  cords  crossing  the  rails,  on 
which  cords  the  bed  lay. 

Coram,  n.  For  quorum,,  certain  magistrates  who  were  neces- 
sary to  form  a  court. 

Corduroy,  ;/.  A  road  made  bv  laying  small  logs  across  and 
covering  with  dirt. 

Corduvant,  n.  Thin  leather  named  from  the  town  Cordoba  in 
Spain  where  it  was  made.      "  Corduvant  gloves." 

Cordwinder,  n.     Cordwainer.     A  shoemaker. 

Cord-wood,  n.  Firewood  cut  four  feet  long  and  sold  by  the 
cord. 

Corking-pin,  n.  A  pin  of  the  largest  size.  Manikin  pin,  the 
smallest  size.  Pins  were  ordered  by  the  thousand,  m.  "  I2m 
best  pins,  3  sorts,  from  manikin  to  corkin." 

Corn,  ;/.      Indian  corn.      Maize. 

Corn,  v.     To  make  drunk  with  whiskey.     Corned=drunk. 

Corn-basket,  ;/.      A  large  basket  for  carrying  ears  of  corn. 

Corn-bread,  n.      Bread  made  of  the  meal  of  Indian  corn. 

Corn-broom,  n.     Brooms  made  from  the  tops  of  broom-corn. 

Corn-cob,  ii.     The  spike  on  which  the  grains  of  corn  grow. 


98  Corn-crib — Cosey. 

Corn-crib,  >i.      A  house  for  holding  corn  in  the  ears. 

Cornder,  n.  A  corner.  A  receding  angle.  "  Put  that  broom 
in  the  cornder.'1 

Corn-dodger,  >/.  A  dumplin'  made  of  corn  meal  and  boiled  in 
a  pot  with  ham  and  cabbage. 

Corned-beef,  ;/.  Beef  that  has  been  a  few  days  in  pickle  but 
not  fully  salted. 

Corner-tree,  n.  The  marked  tree  at  the  angle  of  boundary 
between  two  or  more  tracts  of  land. 

Corn-fed,  adj.     Stout;  plump:  said  of  man  or  beast. 

Cornfield-hand,  ;/.  A  negro  who  worked  in  the  field,  to  dis- 
tinguish from  others  who  were  house-servants,  boatmen  and 

so  on. 

Corn-husk,  n.     The  spike  on  which  the  grains  of  corn  grow. 

Corn-shuck,  n.     The  outer  covering  of  a  ear  of  corn. 

Corn-shucking,  n.  A  gathering  of  people  for  the  purpose  of 
shucking  corn. 

Corn-stalk, ;/.     The  stem  of  the  plant  on  which  the  ears  of  corn 

and  fodder  grow. 
Corn-stalk  fiddle,  ;/.     A  child's  plaything,  made  by  loosening 

the  outer  fibre  of  a  corn   stalk  and  putting  a  bridge  under 

each  end. 

Corn  to  sell,  n.  Said  of  a  person  who  stands  with  his  hands 
behind  him. 

Corporal,  adj.  Corporal  oath,  an  oath  ratified  by  touching  a 
sacrel  object,  especially  the  New  Testament,  as  distinguished 
from  ;i  merely  spoken  or  written  oath. 

Corruption,  n.      Putrid  matter;   pus. 

Cortenions,  >i.  />/.  Curtenemons?  Like  capers.  "Gathering 
Tuckahoe,  Cortenions  and  other  Wild  Fruits,"  from  the 
Englishman's  land. 

Cos,  adv.      Because;  by  reason  of. 

Cosey,  adj.      Snug;  comfortable. 


Cost-free— Cove.  99 

Cost-free,  adj.     Free  of  charge;  without  expense. 

Cotch,  v.     Caught. 

Cote,  v.     To  quote. 

Cote-house,  n.     For  courthouse. 

Cotton,  v.  To  become  closely  or  intimately  associated  with; 
to  acquire  a  strong  liking  for. 

Cotton-cards,  n.  pi.  Hand  cards  made  with  bent  wires  as 
teeth  for  carding  cotton  into  rolls  for  spinning. 

Cotton-patch,  n.  Most  of  the  farmers  planted  a  patch  of  a 
few  acres  of  cotton,  enough  to  be  spun,  and  woven  for 
homespun  socks,  cloth,  and  other  family  uses. 

Cotton-tail,  «.  Popular  name  for  the  rabbit,  "old  hare." 
' '  Molly  cottontail. ' ' 

Coulter,  n.  An  iron  blade  attached  to  the  beam  of  a  plough 
to  cut  the  ground. 

Count,  v.  To  expect  or  think.  "  I  don't  count  on  his  com- 
ing. 

Counter-jumper,  n.     A  salesman  in  a  dry-goods  store. 

Counterpane,  n.  A  bed-cover;  a  coverlet  woven  of  raised 
figures. 

Countrified,  adj.     Looking  like  people  from  the  country. 

County,  n.     The  unit  of  government  in  Virginia. 

Couple,  n.  A  man  and  woman  associated  together  by  marriage 
or  by  betrothal. 

Court-cupboard,  n.  A  sideboard  with  a  number  of  shelves 
for  the  display  of  plate,  and  distinguished  from  the  "livery 
cupboard,"  or  wardrobe. 

Counterpin,  ;/.     Covering  for  a  bed;  counterpane. 

Court-house,  >i.  County  seat.  Shortened  to  C.  H.,  often 
having  no  other  name. 

Cove,  ;/.  A  small  inlet,  creek,  or  bay;  a  nook  in  the  shore  of 
any  considerable  body  of  water. 


100  Cover— Crack. 

Cover,  v.     To    copulate    with;    said  of  male    animals,  usually 
horses. 

Cover,  v.     To  sit  on:  as,  a  hen  on  eggs  or  chickens. 

Covering,  n.    Something  spread  over  or  wrapped  about  another, 
for  protection  or  warmth:  bed-covering. 

Coverlid,  n.     A  cover  for  a  bed.     Bed  quilt.     Coverled. 

Covey,  n.     A  flock  of  partridges. 

Cow,  v.     To  daunt  the  spirits  or  courage;  overawe. 

Cow-calf,  n.     A  female  calf. 

Cowcumber,  >i.     A  form  of  cucumber. 

Cow-dab,  n.     A  lump  of  cow-dung. 

Cower,  v.     To  sink  by  bending  the  knees;  crouch;  squat;  es- 
pecially in  fear  or  shame. 

Cow-lick,  n.     A  tuft  of  hair  that  looks  like  it  had  been  licked 
by  a  cow,  out  of  its  proper  position  and  natural  direction. 

Cow-path,  n.     A  path  or  track  made  by  cows. 

Cow-pen,  v.     To  manure  land  by  penning  cattle  on  it. 

Cows,  n.  pi.      In  the  sense  of  cattle.      "The  boy  has  gone  to 
fetch  up  the  cows. ' ' 

Crabbed,  adj.      Perverse;  cross;  peevish;  springing  from  a  sour 
t em  per. 

Crab-shed,  n.     The  dead  shell  thrown  off  by  a  crab  when  he 
sheds. 

Crack,  >i.     A  sharp  blow;  a  shoot:  as,  "  Let  me  have  a  crack 
at  him." 

Crack,  >i.       Space  between  the  door  and  door   post.       "She 
peeped  through  the  crack  of  the  door." 

Crack,  v.     To  open  a  short  distance:    as,  "Crack  the  door  a 
little  to  let  out  the  smoke." 

Crack,  v.     To  chat;  talk  familiarly:  as,  to  crack  jokes. 
Crack,  adj.     Excellent;  first  rate:  as,  a  crack  shot. 


Crack  a  smile  —  Craney  Island.  101 

Crack  a  smile,  v.  To  laugh;  to  smile.  "He  sits  and  tells 
the  funniest  tales  and  don't  crack  a  smile." 

Cracked,  part.      Impaired  intellectually ;  crazy. 

Cracker,  n.     A  thin,  hard  or  crisp  biscuit. 

Cracker,  ;/.      A  long  foreskin. 

Crackling-bread,  n.  Bread  made  with  cracklings  and  corn 
meal. 

Cracklings,  n.  The  crisp  residue  of  hogs'  fat  after  the  lard 
has  been  dried  out.  (2)  Hardened  mucus  in  the  corners  of 
the  eyes  in  the  morning. 

Crack  of  day,  n.  Break  of  day.  The  narrow  crack  of  light 
on  the  horizon  which  is  the  first  appearance  of  dawn. 
"  He  was  up  by  the  crack  of  day." 

Crack  up,  v.  Cry  up;  puff.  "  He  is  not  what  he  is  cracked 
up  to  be. ' ' 

Cradle,  n.  The  frame  for  catching  the  grain  that  is  cut  by  the 
scythe. 

Cradle,  v.     To  cut  grain  with  a  scythe-cradle. 

Cram,  v.  To  fill  with  more  than  can  be  conveniently,  properly, 
or  comfortably  contained;  fill  to  repletion;  overcrowd. 

Cram,  v.  To  fill  with  food  beyond  what  is  necessary,  or  to 
satiety;  stuff. 

Cramp,  n.     An  involuntary  and  painful  contraction  of  a  muscle.   v 

Cramp,  v.  Hinder  from  free  action  or  development;  restrain; 
hamper;  cripple. 

Crane,  v.  To  stretch  or  bend  the  neck  like  a  crane.  "Cran- 
ing his  neck." 

Craney,  adj.  A  person  is  said  to  be  craney,  when  he  is  tall  and 
slender. 

Craney  Island.  The  name  of  a  small,  sandy  island  in  Hamp- 
ton Roads  at  the  mouth  of  the  Elizabeth  river,  from  Crayne, 
a  personal  name;  or  "craine,"  the  bird;  crayne. 


102  Crank — Cream-pitcher. 

Crank,  ?i.     The  handle  of  a  grindstone  or  any  similar  machine. 

Crank,  adj.  Cranky;  liable  to  lurch  or  capsize.  Cranksided. 
Unsteady;  not  firm. 

Cranksided,  adj.     Onesided.      One  side  heavier  than  the  other. 

Cranky,  adj.  Full  of  cranks;  full  of  whims  and  crotchets; 
having  the  characteristics  of  a  crank. 

Cranky,  adj.  In  a  shaky  or  loose  condition.  Rickety.  Un- 
steady. 

Crap,  n.     A  crop  of  grain. 

Crap,  v.     To  raise  a  crop.      Crapping,  farming. 

Cratch,  n.     Crotch,  fork  of  a  tree.      Cratches,  crutches. 

Crave,  v.  To  long  for  or  eagerly  desire,  as  a  means  of  gratifi- 
cation. 

Craving,  >i.  Vehement  or  urgent  desire,  or  longing;  appetite; 
longing. 

Craw,  ;/.     The  crop  of  a  bird.      When  a  person  has  received  a 
slight,  and  cannot  forget  it,  it  is  said  to  "  stick  in  his  craw,  ' 
"to  stick  in  his  gizzard." 

Crawly,  adj.  Having  the  sensation  as  of  the  contact  of  crawl- 
ing things.      "I  felt  crawly." 

Craziness,  n.  Mental  weakness,  or  flightiness.  "  That's  her 
era  ziness." 

Crazy,  adj.  Broken;  delapidated;  weak;  applied  to  any  struc- 
ture, but  especially  to  a  building,  or  to  a  boat,  or  a  carriage. 
Crazy  condition  of  health. 

Crazy-bone,  n.  The  point  of  the  elbow,  where  the  ulnar 
nerve  comes  mar  the  surface  and  is  hurt  by  a  casual  blow. 

Creaky,  adj.     Creaking;  apt  to  creak. 

Cream,  n.  The  best  part  of  a  thing;  the  choice  part.  The 
cream  of  a  joke.      Cream  of  a  bargain. 

Cream-pitcher,  ;/.  Cream-pot.  A  small  pitcher  for  holding 
cream  at  table.      Never  railed  a  jug. 


Crease — Cripple.  103 

Crease,  n.     A  line    or  long  thin  mark  made  by  a  folding  or 

doubling. 
Creasy,  adj.      Full  of  creases;  marked  by  creases. 

Creek,  n.     A  small  stream  where  there  is  an  ebb  and  flow  of 

the  tide. 
C'reen,  v.     To  lean  to  one  side  as  a  ship  under  press  of  sail. 

Careen.      "  The  boat  creened  so  I  thought  she'd  turn  over. 

Creepers,  ;/.  pi.     Headdice. 

Creepings,  ;/.  pi.     Shivery  sensations  from  dread,  or  cold. 

Creep-mouse,  >i.  To  tickle  babies  to  make  them  laugh  by 
moving  the  fingers  rapidly  on  their  bodies  as  if  a  mouse  was 
running  over  them. 

Creetur,  ;/.  A  creature.  Creetur.  A  disparaging  term  for  a 
person.  "  He  is  a  poor  creetur.''  Also  applied  to  animals: 
"  dumb  creeturs." 

Creepy,  adj.     Chilled  and  crawling,  as  with  horrow  or  fear. 

Crib,  >/.     A  child's  bed. 

Crib,  ;/.  A  house  usually  built  of  logs  for  holding  corn.  Coni- 
crib. 

Crick,  n.     A  painful  spasmodic  affection  as  of  the  neck  or  back. 

Cricket,  n.  A  small,  low  stool  of  wood,  with  four  legs  like  a 
bench;  a  seat  for  one  person. 

Cried  up,^.  part.     Well  spoken  of;  much  praised. 

Crimp,  v.     To  cause  to  contract  or  pucker  so  as  to  become 

wrinkled  or  wavy. 
Crimple,  v.      To  contract  or  draw  together;  cause  to  shrink  or 

pucker. 

Crinkly,  adj.  Full  of  crinkles;  wrinkly;  crimpy;  like  a  crin- 
kle; uneven  of  surface  as  crumpled  paper  is. 

Cripple,  //.  One  who  creeps,  halts  or  limps;  one  who  is  par- 
tially or  wholly  deprived  of  the  use  of  one  or  more  of  his 
limbs.     A  lame  person;  also  applied  to  animals. 


104  Crisp— Cross-lift. 

Crisp,  adj.      Brittle;  breaking  or  crumbling  into  fragments. 

Crispy,  adj.     Curled;  formed  into  curls  of  little  waves.      Crispy 
hair. 

Croaker,   n.      A  small  fish  getting  its  name  from  a   peculiar 
croaking  sound  it  makes  when  caught. 

Crock,  n.     An  earthen  vessel  used  for  holding  milk,  butter,  etc. 

Crony,    n.      An   old  familiar  friend;    an   intimate  companion. 
"  He  is  an  old  crony  of  mine." 

Crook,  n.  A  hook  on  which  the  pots  are  hung  in  the  kitchen 
chimney. 

Crookeder,  adj.     More  crooked. 

Crope,  v.     Crept. 

Croppercrown,  n.     A  top-knot  on  a  fowl's  head. 

Cropping,  pres.  part.      Farming;  raising  crops. 

Cross,  n.  A  mixing  of  breeds  in  raising  animals;  an  animal 
of  a  cross-breed. 

Cross,  adj.      Peevish;  fretful;  illhumored;  perverse. 

Cross-cut  saw,  n.  Croskarfe.  A  saw  to  cut  across  the  grain 
of  wood,  with  a  handle  at  each  end,  and  used  by  two  per- 
sons. 

Cross-eyed,  adj.     One  or  both  eyes  looking  in. 

Cross-furrow,  n.  A  furrow  cut  across  the  other  furrows  to 
intercept  the  water  that  runs  along  them,  to  carry  it  off  the 
field. 

Cross-garnets,  n.  pi.      Hinges  for  windows  or  doors  shaped 

like  a ;  the  shorter  part  fastened  to  the  frame  and  the 

longer  to  the  leaf. 

Cross-grained,  adj.     Perverse;  crabbed;  untractable. 

Cross-jostle,  n.     A  wrangle.     To  cross-jostle,  v. 

Cross-legged,  adj.      Having    the    legs    crossed    when    seated. 
"  There  he  sat  cross-legged  in  the  shade." 

Cross-lift,  v.  When  men  are  carrying  a  heavy  load  with  hand- 
speaks  two  will  put  their  handspeak  under  that  of  two  al- 


Crossness — Crowder.  105 

ready  carrying;  this  is  called  cross-lifting;  when  a  mighty 
effort  is  made  to  upset  or  get  one  out  of  a  place  it  is  said: 
"  We  will  try  to  cross-lift  him." 

Crossness,  n.     Ill-humour;  fretfullness ;  peevishness. 

Cross-road,  ;/.  A  road  that  crosses  from  one  main  road  to 
another;  a  by  road. 

Cross-wise,  adv.  Across;  transversely.  Figuratively,  con- 
trary to  desire ;  at  cross  purposes ;  across  the  grain.  ' '  Every- 
thing goes  crosswise  today."     Crossways. 

Cross-words,  n.  pi.  A  quarrel.  "  They  have  been  neighbours 
all  their  lives  and  never  had  a  cross- ti'ord." 

Crotch,  n.  A  fork,  or  forking,  as  of  two  legs,  or  branches. 
A  man's  crotch  is  the  fork  of  his  legs.  "  His  boots  came 
up  to  his  crotch." 

Crotchet,  n.  A  singular  opinion;  an  unusual  and  whimsical 
notion. 

Crotchety,  adj.  Full  of  odd  fancies;  eccentric  in  thought; 
whimsical. 

Croupy,  adj.  Hoarse,  like  one  about  to  have  croup.  "  The 
child  has  a  very  croupy  cough." 

Crow,  )i.  A  large  black  bird;  the  American  crow  feeds  on 
grain  and  not  on  carrion  like  the  English  crow. 

Crow,  n.     Groove  in  the  head  of  a  barrel  into  which  the  head 

is  fitted. 
Crow,  v.     To  boast  in  triumph;  vaunt;  usually  with  over.      "  He 

crows  over  him  now." 

Crow-blackbird,  u.     A  large  black  bird. 

Crow-cracklings,  n.  pi.  Crozv  is  the  mesentery  of  the  hog; 
crow -cracklings  are  the  brown,  crisp  pieces  left  after  drying 
out  !;he  lard  from  the  fat  of  the  mesentery,  or  ' '  gut-fat. ' ' 

Crowd,  v.  To  push;  force  forward;  shove.  To  press  close, 
or  closely  together;  squeeze;  cram. 

Crowder,  ;/.     A  kind  of  pea,  many  in  the  hull. 


106  Crow-feet— Cud. 

Crow-feet,  n.  pi.  Wrinkles  about  the  outer  corners  of  the 
eyes. 

Crowner,  n.     For  coroner. 

Crow  over,  v.  To  bully;  to  triumph:  as,  a  cock  does  when 
he  has  won  a  fignt. 

Cruet,  n.  A  small  glass  bottle  for  holding  vinegar,  oil,  etc. 
The  small  bottles  in  casters. 

Crumb,  v.     To  break  into  small  pieces  with  the  fingers. 

Crumbly,  adj.     Apt  to  crumble;  friable:  as,  crumbly  bread. 

Crummy,  adj.      Full  of  crumbs;  soft  as  the  crumb  of  bread  is. 

Crumple,  v.  To  draw  or  press  into  irregular  folds;  rumple; 
wrinkle. 

Crumply,  adj.      Crooked;    twisted:    as,    a    cow    with    crumply 

horns. 

Crunch,  v.  To  grind  with  the  teeth;  chew  with  violence  and 
noise. 

Crupper-bone,  n.     The  lower  end  of  the  backbone. 

Crusses,  n.  pi.     For  crusts. 

Crusty,  adj.  Peevish;  snappish;  surly;  harshly  curt  in  manner 
of  speech. 

Cry,  n.  The  voice  of  the  foxhound.  "  We  heard  the  pack  in 
full  cry  about  sunrise." 

Cry,  v.  "She  was  crying  a' most  to  death."  To  weep  inor- 
dinately. 

Cry,  v.  The  peculiar  crackling  noise  made  by  leather  when 
bent:  as,  "  crying  shoes. " 

Cry-baby,  ?/.  A  child  babyish  for  its  age,  and  disposed  to  cry 
for  a  small  hurt  or  disappointment. 

Crystal,  ?/.     The  glass  cover  of  a  watch  face. 

Cubbord,  >i.     Cupboard.     A  series  of  shelves  open  or  enclosed 

in  a  closet  to  hold  cups,  plates,  food,  etc. 

Cud,  >/.      Quid;  something  that  is  chewed. 


Cuddle— Curchy.  107 

Cuddle,  v.     To  lie  close  or  snug. 

Cuddy,  n.     A  small  cupboard,  or  storeroom  for  odds  and  ends. 

Cuff,  n.     A  woolen  wristlet  worn  for  warmth. 

Cull,  v.  To  pick  out;  select  or  separate  one  or  more  irom 
others.      ' '  To  cull  oysters. 

Cullender,  n.  A  metal  vessel  with  the  bottom  full  of  small 
holes  to  let  liquids  run  through;  a  strainer. 

Culls,  n.  pi.  Things  of  an  inferior  quality  separated  from  a  bet- 
ter sort.  ' '  There  were  a  number  of  good  red-oak  hogsheads 
staves,  and  some  culls.      Cullings. 

Cumbersome,  adj.     Burdensome;  awkward;  unwieldy. 

Cunning,  adj.  Curiously  or  quaintly  attractive;  subtly  interest- 
ing; piquant. 

Cunny-fingered,  adj.  A  peculiar  way  of  using  the  fingers  in 
shooting  a  marble,  it  being  held  on  the  thumb  nail  with  the 
end  of  the  fore-finger.  A  way  of  bending  the  thumb  into 
the  closed  hand  to  shoot  the  taw,  in  playing  marbles. 

Cuppen,  11.      Pen  for  cattle.     Cowpen. 

Cup-plate,  ;/.  A  small  glass  plate  in  which  the  tea  or  coffee 
cup  was  put  when  coffee  was  poured  into  and  drunk  from 
the  saucer. 

Cups  and  saucers,  >i.  A  child's  term  for  acorns,  and  the  cups 
that  hold  them. 

Cup-towel,  n.  The  last  yard  or  so  of  a  piece  of  cotton  cloth 
in  a  loom  had  spaces  of  an  inch  cut  out  of  the  warp,  the 
filling  going  all  the  way  across,  the  thrums  were  tied  so  as  to 
form  lozenge  shaped  spaces,  and  tossels  at  the  ends;  used 
for  wiping  cups. 

Cur,  n.  A  surly,  ill-bred  man;  a  low  despicable,  ill-natured 
fellow. 

Curat,  )i.     Cuirass. 

Curchy,  ■>/.  A  gesture  of  reverence,  respect,  or  civility;  a  kind 
of  obeisance  made  by  a  woman,  consisting  in  a  sinking  or 


108  Curcumber — Cut. 

inclination    of  the    body,   with    the   bending  of  the    knee. 
Curtsy;  curtshy;  courtesey. 

Curcumber,  n.     A  cucumber. 

Cur-dog,  n.  A  cur,  a  worthless  dog.  A  dog  of  unknown 
breed  and  blood,  but  of  mean  stock. 

Cure,  v.  To  ripen  in  the  sun.  "The  apples  were  peeled, 
and  cured  in  the  sun. "      "  Sun-cured  tobacco. ' ' 

Curies,  n.  Name  of  a  place  on  the  James  river  from  the 
" Curies  of  the  river, "  1612.  From  an  Indian  word  mean- 
ing "a  sinuous  tidal  estuary;  "  "  the  curls  of  the  river." 

Curlicue,  ;/.  Something  fantastically  curled  or  twisted:  as,  to 
make  a  curlicue  with  a  pen. 

Currel,  n.  Name  of  some  household  implement;  found  in  in- 
ventories. 

Curry  favour,  v.  To  gain  favour  by  officious  show  of  kind- 
ness; or  by  flattery. 

Curt,  adj.     Short  and  dry;  tartly  abrupt;  brusk. 

Cush,  n.  A  dish  made  by  stirring  broken  corn-bread  in  a 
spider  with  the  gravy  of  fried  bacon,  water  being  added, 
and  pieces  of  red-pepper  pods. 

Cuss,  n.  A  fellow;  a  perverse  or  refractory  person:  as,  "a 
hard  cuss. ' ' 

Cuss,  v.     To  curse;  swear;  use  profane  language. 

Cut,  u.  A  blow.  "  I  gave  him  a  cut  with  the  whip  and  he  went 
off." 

Cut,  n.  Part  of  a  cornfield.  "  Have  you  finished  weeding  the 
corn  in  the  upper  cut?  " 

Cut,  v.  To  cut  the  foot.  A  person  "cuts  his  foot"  when  he 
treads  on  dung.  (2)  To  cut  one's  finger,  is  to  break  wind. 
"  Somebody  has  cut  his  finger.''' 

Cut,  :■.     To  castrate. 

Cut,  v.  To  cast  or  turn  stealthily:  as,  "She  cut  her  eyes  at 
him." 


Cut— Dabble.  109 

Cut,  v.     To  gnaw  as  a  rat.     ' '  I  heard  a  rat  cutting  in  the  closet. 

Cut  down,  v.     To  fell  trees.      "  He  cut-down  all  of  his  timber. " 

Cut  down,  v.  At  the  last  hour  just  before  the  school  breaking 
up  all  the  children  who  were  big  enough  to  spell  were  made 
to  stand  up  and  the  master  gave  out  the  words.  The 
scholar  who  spelt  a  word  missed  by  those  ahead  of  him  cut 
them  down,  and  went  ahead  of  them. 

Cute,  adj.     Clever;  sharp;  smart;  quick;  cunning. 

Cut  loose,  v.  As  to  shoot  a  gun.  "He  cut  loose  with  both 
barrels  at  the  flock  and  knocked  down  six  ducks." 

Cut  stick,  v.     To  be  off;  to  go  away. 

Cutthroat,  n.     A  murderer;  an  assassin;  a  ruffian. 

Cutlash,  ;/.     A  cutlass. 

Cut  out,  v.     After  hogs  are  killed  and  the  meat  cold  they  are 

cut  out,  into  hams,  middlings,  shoulders,  etc. 

Cut  the  comb,  v.     To  humiliate;  abase. 

Cuttle-ex,  n.     A  cutlass. 

Cutty.     The  given  /lame  of  a  short,  stumpy  negro  woman. 

Cut  up,  v.     To  be  riotous. 

Cymblin,  n.     A  sort  of  eatable  gourd. 

Cymblin-gourd,  n.  The  dried  shell  of  the  cymblin  that  is 
used  for  dipping  water,  and  many  other  household  purposes. 

D 

The  /  has  a  tendency  to  change  to  d  in  the  middle  of  words: 
as,  boddle  for  bottle;  coddon  for  cotton,  etc. 

Dab,  n.  A  small  lump  or  mass  of  something  soft,  or  moist;  a 
small  quantity:  as,  a  dab  of  mortar;  a  dab  of  butter. 

Dab,  v.     The  sense  of  striking  with  a  soft  or  moist  substance. 

Dab,  v.     To  strike;  peck. 

Dabble,  v.  To  play  in  water,  as  with  the  hands;  splash  or  play 
as  in  water. 


110  Dabs — Dapper. 

Dabs,  n.  pi.      Lumps;  pieces.      "  Your  hands  are  just  like  dabs 
of  ice." 

Daddy-long-legs,   n.     Spider  like  creatures  with  small  body 
and  long  legs. 

Daddy,  n.     A  father;  papa.      Grand-daddy. 

Dade,  adj.     For  dead. 

Daft,  adj.      Simple;  stupid;  foolish;  weak-minded;  silly. 

Daggle,  v.     To  trail  in  the  dirt;  to  trail  through  mud  and  water, 
as  a  garment. 

Daggly,  adj.     Wet. 

Dainty,  adj.     Nice  as  regards  behaviour,  decorum;  weak;  fas- 
tidious; effeminate. 

Dally,  v.     To  trifle  away  time  in  any  way,  as  in  idleness;  lin- 
ger; loiter;  delay.      "Why  have  you  dallied  so  long." 
Damage,  ?;.      Cost;  expense.      "  What's  the  damage." 
Damnify,  v.     To  hurt,  or  injure;  damage. 
Damp,  adj.      Rainy:  a  damp  day. 

Dampen,  v.     To  make  damp  or  moist;  wet  slightly.     To  put 
a  check  or  damper  on;  make  weak  or  dull;  dim. 

Dampishness,  ;/.     A  moderate  degree  of  dampness  or  moisture. 

Dampness,  n.     Moistness;  moisture;  moderate  humidity. 

Dance,  )i.     A  country  party  where  dancing  is  the  chief  amuse- 
ment. 

Dander,   n.      Scurf;  dandruff.      Anger;  passion.      "When   his 

dander  is  up." 

Dangerous,  adj.       In  danger  from  illness:  as,  "  He  is  not  dan- 
gerous, but  very  sick." 

Dangle,  v.      To  dance  attendance;   hover  longingly,  as  for  no- 
tice or  favours:  as,  to  dangle  about  a  woman. 

Dangler,  ;/.     One  who  dangles  about  another. 

Dapper,  adj.      Pretty;   elegant;  neat;  trim.      Small  and  active; 
nimble:  lively. 


Dapple — Dasher.  Ill 

Dapple,  adj.  Marked  with  spots;  spotted;  with  spots  of  dif- 
ferent colours,  or  shades  of  colour:  as,  a  dapple-horse. 

Dapple-gray,  n.  Of  a  gray  colour  variegated  by  spots  of  a 
different  colour  or  shade. 

Dare,  n.  Take  a  dare,  to  receive  a  challenge  without  accepting 
it. 

Daredevil,  //.  One  who  fears  nothing  and  will  undertake  any- 
thing. 

Daresent,  v.     Not  dare  to  do  a  thing. 

Dark,  ;/.  Dark  of  the  moon:  nights  when  the  moon  does  not 
shine,  between  the  last  of  the  last  quarter  and  the  new 
moon.  (2)  Also,  in  the  dark;  by  the  time  it  gets  dark:  as, 
"  He  will  get  there  by  dark." 

Dark,  adj.  Not  fair:  applied  to  the  complexion. 

Darken,  v.  To  grow  dark  or  darker. 

Darkey,  n.  A  negro. 

Darlen,  n.  Darnel;  cheat;  a  deleterious  grass  that  grows  in 

wheat. 

Darn,  v.  To  mend  a  hole  with  yarn  or  thread,  by  means  of  a 
needle,  so  as  to  fill  up  the  hole  with  threads  without  puck- 
ering the  material. 

Darning-gourd,  ;/.  A  small,  smooth  gourd  over  which  an  arti- 
cle to  be  darned  is  drawn. 

Darning-needle,  n.  A  long  needle  with  a  large  eye,  used  in 
darning-. 


»• 


Darnix,  n.  Darnick.  A  thick  cloth  used  for  table-covers. 
"  Table  carpets."     A  coarse  sort  of  damask.     Darnex. 

Dash,  ;/.  A  small  infusion  or  mixture:  as,  a  dash  of  wine  in 
water. 

Dasher,  n.  A  circular  piece  of  wood  full  of  holes  to  which  a 
staff  is  fixed  and  used  as  a  plunger  for  churming  in  the  bar- 
re\-churm.  The  dasher-head  was  made  of  ash,  and  the 
staff  of  oak. 


112  Dashing — Dead-set. 

Dashing,  p.  a.     Showy;  brilliant.      Bold;  dashy. 
Date,  -v.      End;  conclusion:  as,  "  up  to  dfofe. " 

Daubing,  n.     The  mud  or  mortar  with  which  a  wall  was  daubed, 

or  plastered. 
Daunce,  v.     Dance,  with  the  very  broad  a. 
Dawdle,  v.     To  idle;  waste  time;  trifle;  loiter. 
Dawdling,  p.  a.     Sauntering;  idling. 

Daylight,  n.  The  light  of  day;  early  morning.  "I  was  up 
at  daylight." 

Daylight-down,  v.  When  dark  comes  after  sunset.  '  I  ex- 
pect him  back  by  daylight-doivn." 

Daze,  v.  To  stun.  A  person  is  dazed  by  a  blow  on  the  head, 
or  by  fright.      "  He  had  a  dazed  look." 

Dead,  adj.  Tasteless;  vapid;  spiritless;  flat:  said  of  liquors. 
(2)  Fixed;  sure;  unerring:  as,  a  "  dead  sure  thing." 

Dead,  v.  A  tree  was  deaded  by  cutting  off  the  bark  all  around 
it. 

Deaden,  v.     To  kill  trees  by  belting. 

Deadfall,  ;/.     A  trap  that  kills  the  game  by  falling  on  it. 

Deadhead,  n.  One  who  is  allowed  to  ride  in  a  public  convey- 
ance, to  attend  a  theatre  or  other  public  place  of  amuse- 
ment without  payment. 

Dead-lift,?/.  A  last  resort;  a  desperate  emergency.  "Some 
butts  of  small  claret  the  captain  had  concealed  in  a  cellar  for 
a  dead-lift '." 

Dead-men,  n.  Some  inside  part  (lungs?)  of  a  crab,  not  to  be 
eaten,  "as  they  will  kill  you." 

Dead  men's  fingers,  ;/.  pi.  A  part  of  a  crab  held  to  be  unfit 
for  food. 

Dead-set,  ;/.  A  determined  effort  or  attempt;  a  pointed  at- 
tack. 


Dead-stand — Delegates.  113 

Dead-stand,  n.  A  dilemma;  a  fix;  to  be  brought  to  a  stand- 
still; be  checked  and  prevented  from  motion  or  action.  To 
come  to  a  stop.  "  He  seems  to  be  at  a  dead  stand  in  his 
business." 

Deaf-ears,  n.  pi.  Deef-ears.  The  auricles  of  the  heart  of  a 
hog,  always  cut  off  and  thrown  away. 

Deal,  n.  An  indefinite  quantity,  degree  or  extent:  as,  a  "good 
deal  of  time. ' ' 

Death-bell,  n.  A  sound  in  the  ears  like  the  ringing  of  a  bell, 
supposed  to  foretell  a  death. 

Debth,  n.  For  depth.  "He  went  too  far  into  the  river  and 
got  out  of  his  debth. " 

Decay,  n.  Loss  of  fortune  or  property;  misfortune;  ruin:  ap- 
plied to  persons.      "  They  have  gone  to  decay." 

Decence,  n.     Decency.      "  Have  decence." 

Decent,  adj.  Moderate:  respectable;  fair;  tolerable;  good 
enough:  as,  a  decent  fortune;  a  decent  appearance. 

Deck,  n.      A  pack,  applied  to  playing  cards. 

Decline,  ;/.  Any  chronic  disease  in  which  the  strength  and 
plumpness  of  the  body  gradually  diminish  untill  the  patient 
dies.      "  He's  in  a  decline." 

Decoy-duck,  n.     A  person  who  is  acting  as  a  decoy  for  other 

persons. 
Deef,  adj.      Deaf. 

Deer-drive,  n.  To  hunt  deer  with  dogs  to  drive  them  in  a  cer- 
tain direction. 

Deerskin  sifter,  n.  A  sifter  for  separating  the  husk  from  the 
meal,  made  by  punching  small  holes  in  a  tanned  deerskin, 
for  lack  of  the  wire  gauze. 

Deer-stand,  n.  The  place  where  a  hunter  stands  to  shoot  deer 
that  are  driven  by  him. 

Delegates,  n.  pi.  House  of  Delegates,  the  lower  house  of  the 
General  Assembly. 


114  Delve— Dibble. 

Delve,  v.  To  practice  constant  toil;  long-  and  laborious.  '  To 
dig  and  delve."      "  They  are  delving  at  it." 

Demean,  v.  To  lower;  lower  the  dignity  or  standard  of.  '  I 
wouldn't  demean  myself  to  do  such  a  thing." 

Dent,  n.     A  hollow  made  by  a  blow  or  pressure. 

Depend,  v.  To  rely;  rest  in  full  confidence  or  relief,  with,  on 
or  upon.      "  We  couldn't  depend  on  him." 

Dependance,  n.  Reliance;  confidence;  trust;  resting  on  some- 
thing. 

Deranged,  p.  a.     Unsettled  in  mind;  insane. 

Destitute,  adj.     Without  means;  indigent;  needy;  poor. 

Determined,/),  a.  Showing  determination  of  purpose;  reso- 
lute; unflinching. 

Devil,  n.  A  drag  with  crooked  iron  teeth,  for  clearing  grass 
out  of  ploughed  ground. 

Devil,  v.     To  bother;  torment. 

Devilishness,  ;/.      Deviltry;  trickery;  roguishness;  mischief. 

Devilment,  n.      Roguery;  mischief;  trickery. 

Devil's  darning  needle,  n.     Mosquito-hawk.      Dragon-fly. 

Devil's  riding  horse,  n.     The  praying  mantis. 

Devil's  snuff-box,  ;/.     The  puff-hall. 

Deviltry,  n.      Diabolical  action;  malicious  mischief. 

Dew-berry,  n.  A  trailing  plant  bearing  black  berries.  The 
running-blackberry. 

Dew-claw,  n.  The  rudimentary  inner  toe  of  the  foot,  espe- 
cially the  hind  foot,  of  some  dogs. 

Dewfall,  n.     A  fall  of  dew:  as,  heavy  dewfallXzsX  night. 

Diaper,  n.  A  square  piece  of  cloth  for  swaddling  nates  and  ad- 
jacent parts  of  an  infant;  clout. 

Dibble,  v.  The  action  of  a  duck  when  it  fills  its  mouth  with 
water  and  holds  up  its  head  to  let  it  run  down;  drinking. 


Dicky— Din.  115 

Dicky,  ;/.  A  separate  shirt  front  worn  over  the  breast  in  place 
of  a  shirt,  or  to  hide  a  shirt  not  fit  to  be  seen.  Separate 
shirt-fronts  of  this  sort  were  also  called  false-bosoms,  and 
shams. 

Didapper,  n.     A  small  diving  bird. 

Diddle-daddle,  v.  To  dawdle  about.  "You  go  diddle-dad- 
dling  about  all  day  and  do  nothing." 

Diddles,  n.  pi.     Young  ducks.     Diddle,  a  word  to  call  ducks. 

Didoes,  n.  A  caper;  prank;  trick;  cutting  didoes,  playing  a 
prank;  cutting  capers. 

Die,  v.  To  be  consumed  with  great  yearning  or  desire;  be  very 
desirous:  as,  "  She  was  just  dying  to  go." 

Die-away,  adj.     Languid;  languishing;  expiring. 

Die-out,  v.  To  come  to  an  end  gradually;  become  extinct  by 
degrees;  vanish. 

Diet,  n.  Food  prescribed  for  the  prevention  or  cure  of  disease, 
and  limited  in  kind  and  quantity. 

Differ,  v.     To  quarrel. 

Difference,  n.  A  controversy.  "They  had  a  difference  and 
have  never  settled  it." 

Difficulty,  ;/.  A  quarrel:  a  fight.  "  They  will  have  a  difficulty 
the  first  time  they  meet." 

Dig,  n.     A  thrust;  a  punch;  a  poke:  as,  "A  dig  in  the  ribs." 

Diggings,  ;/.     Neighbourhood.      "  In  these  diggings.'" 

Dike,  n.     A  low  wall  of  turf;  a  ditch-bank. 

Dike,  v.     To  dress  fine.      "  You  are  diked  up  to-day." 

Dilly-dally,  v.     To  loiter;  delay;  trifle. 

Dimity,  n.  A  cotton  fabric  used  undyed  for  beds  and  bed  fur- 
niture. 

Din,  n.  A  loud,  rattling,  clattering  noise  of  long  duration. 
' '  You  make  such  a  din  I  cannot  hear  my  ears. ' ' 


116  Din— Dirty. 

Din,  v.  To  press  or  force  with  clamour  or  with  persistent  repe- 
tition.     "  It  has  been  dinned  in  my  ears  tor  months." 

Ding,  v.     To  keep  repeating;  impress  by  reiteration.      "You 

have  been  dinging  at  that  all  day. 
Ding,  v.      "I  cannot  ding  it  into  him."      I  cannot  make  him 

understand  it. 

Dingy,  adj.  Dingey  (soft  g)\  foul;  dirty.  Soiled;  tarnished; 
of  a  dusky  colour. 

Dining-day,  n.  A  dinner  given  to  a  large  number  of  people 
was  spoken  of  as  a  "dining-day." 

Dinner-pot,  ;/.  A  large,  iron  pot  holding  about  twenty  gal- 
lons, in  which  dinner  is  cooked,  ham  and  cabbage.  Some- 
times hung  over  the  fire  by  pot-hooks,  sometimes  standing 
on  its  three  iron  legs  over  the  coals  on  the  hearth. 

Dint,  n.      Force;  power:  as,  by  dint  of  argument. 

Dip,   v.      To   plunge   into  water  or  other   liquid   and   quickly 

emerge. 
Dip,  n.      The  act  of   dipping   up  as   with   a   ladle   or  dipper. 

"  Give  me  a  dip  of  it." 
Dip-net,  n.     A  net  with  a  bow  and  long  handle,  for  catching 

crabs.     Crabbing-net. 

Dipper,  //.  A  bird  so  called  because  it  dips,  ducks,  or  dives 
under  water.  (2)  A  vessel  of  wood,  iron  or  tin  with  a  long- 
straight  handle,  used  to  dip  water  or  other  liquid. 

Dipsey-lead,  n.      Nautical  change  of  deep-sea  lead. 

Directly,  adv.  Straightway;  without  delay;  at  once;  imme- 
diately; presently.      "  He'll  go  directly." 

Dirt,  n.     Earth,  especially  loose  earth;  disintegrated  soil. 

Dirt-cheap,  adj.     As  cheap  as  dirt;  very  cheap. 

Dirt-pies,  n.  pi.  Imitation  of  pies  made  by  children  out  of 
clay  or  dirt. 

Dirty,  v.     To  dirty,  to  discharge  excrement  from  the  bowels. 


Dirty— Ditch.  117 

Dirty,  adj.  Characterized  by  dirt;  unclean;  not  cleanly;  sul- 
lied.     Morally  unclean;  base;  low;  mean;  dishonest. 

Dirty,  v.     To  defile;  make  filthy;  soil;  befoul. 

Disagree,  v.     To  be  in  a  state  of  discord;  wrangle,  quarrel. 

Disbelief,  n.  A  negation  or  denial  of  the  truth  of  some  partic- 
ular thing. 

Discommode,  v.  To  put  to  inconvenience;  trouble;  incom- 
mode. 

Disgruntled,/),  a.  Disappointed;  disgusted;  offended;  thrown 
into  a  state  of  sulky  dissatisfaction. 

Dish,  ;/.     Angle  at  which  spokes  are  set  in  the  hub  of  a  wheel. 

Dish-cloth,  ;/.     A  cloth  used  for  washing  dishes. 

Dish-clout,  n.     A  dish-cloth. 

Dish-rag,  n.     A  dish-cloth. 

Dish-up,  v.  To  take  the  dinner  from  pots,  ovens  and  skillets 
and  put  it  on  dishes  ready  for  the  table. 

Dish-water,  n.     Water  in  which  dishes  have  been  washed. 

Dismals,;/./)/.     Gloom;  melancholy;  dumps. 

Displeasure,  //.     Offense;  umbrage. 

Disposed,/),  a.  Inclined;  minded;  in  the  mood.  "  He  is  dis- 
posed to  do  what  is  right. ' ' 

Disremember,  v.     Not  remember;  forget. 

Distemper,  n.  Disease  for  man  or  beast.  "Living  like  that 
they  will  all  have  the  distemper." 

Distracted,/),  a.  Disordered  in  intellect;  deranged;  mad; 
frantic:  distracted  with  the  toothache. 

Distraction,  n.  Violent  mental  excitement,  or  extreme  agony 
of  mind:  as,  "You  drive  me  to  distraction.'" 

Ditch,  ;/.  Any  narrow  open  passage  for  water  on  the  surface  of 
the  ground.  A  clear  distinction  is  made  between  a  (///rand 
a  ditch;  '^  ditch  is  a  trench  dug  in  the  ground,  a  dike  is  the 
bank  made  on  the  edge  of  the  ditch. 


118  Ditch— Dog. 

Ditch,  v.     To  dig  or  make  a  ditch.     To  dig  a  ditch  in. 

Ditch-water,  n.     Stale  or  stagnant  water  collected  in  a  ditch. 

Dividen,  v.  For  divided.  "  Is  dividend  York  Records, 
1672. 

Dividend,  n.  Divident.  A  body  of  land  contained  in  one 
patent  or  survey. 

Dizzy,  adj.  Giddy;  having  a  sensation  of  whirling  in  the  head, 
with  proneness  to  fall. 

Do,  v.  The  phrase,  "  He  will  not  do  a  thing  to  them,"  means 
that  they  would  not  be  molested  in  any  way. 

Dobber,  n.     A  dauber.      "  Dirt-dobber. "      A  mud-wasp. 

Dobbing,  n.  Plastering.  Clay  mixed  with  straw  for  filling 
chinks  in  log-houses,  and  building  chimblies. 

Dobble,  v.      Dabble.      "To  dobblc  in  the  mud,"  as  children. 

Dock,  n.     The  space  of  water  between  two  wharves. 

Dock,  :•.  To  cut  off,  as  the  end  of  a  thing;  cut  short;  curtail: 
as,  to  dock  the  tail  of  a  horse.  (2)  To  deduct  a  part  from; 
shorten;  diminish:  as,  to  dock  one's  wages. 

Doctor,  v.  To  disguise  by  mixture  or  manipulations;  adulter- 
ate; tamper  with;  cook  up.  (2)  To  practice  physic.  To 
receive  medical  treatment;  to  take  medicine. 

Doctor-snake,  ;/.  When  a  snake  was  killed  and  left  on  the 
ground,  and  a  hog,  bird  of  prey  or  some  other  varmint  made 
way  with  him,  it  is  said  that  the  "doctor-snake"  has  cured 
him  so  that  he  could  get  away. 

Doddle,  v.     To  toddle. 

Dodge,;;.  A  cunning  trick.  "He  is  up  to  some  dodge  or 
other." 

Dodge,  v.  To  start  suddenly  aside.  To  shift  about;  move 
cautiously,  as  in  avoiding  discovery,  or  in  following  and 
watching  another's  movements. 

Dog,  v.     To  pursue:  t<>  urge.     (2)  To  chase  cattle  with  dogs. 


Dog-eared — Doom.  119 

Dog-eared,  adj.  Having  the  corners  of  the  leaves  curled  over 
and  soiled  by  use,  as  a  book. 

Doggery,  ?/.     A  mean  grog-shop. 

Dogs,  n.  pi.      Doggs.      Andirons.      Fire-dogs. 

Dogs' -ears,  n.     The  turned  corners  of  the  leaves  of  books. 

Dog-stud,  ti.  The  husband  of  a  woman  who  had  no  children 
was  called  a  dog-stud. 

Dog-trick,  n.  A  currish  or  mean  trick;  an  ill-natured  practi- 
cal joke. 

Dolefull,  adj.      Full  of  grief;  sorrowful. 

Dolefully,  adj.  In  a  doleful  manner;  sorrowfully;  dismally; 
sadly. 

Dolesome,  adj.     Doleful;  gloomy;  sorrowful;  dismal. 

Dolesomely,  adv.     In  a  dolesome  manner. 

Dolesomeness,  n.     Gloom;  dismalness. 

Doll,  n.  A  toy  representing  a  baby  girl  or  boy,  used  by  chil- 
dren. 

Domestics,  n.  pi.  Home-made  cotton  cloth,  either  bleached 
or  unbleached,  of  the  grades  in  common  use,  and  neither 
printed  nor  dyed. 

Domicils,  n.      Household  furniture. 

Dominica,  n.  A  large  white  fowl  covered  with  black  spots:  a 
dominica  hen. 

Done-up,  p.  p.  Completely  used  up;  thoroughly  fatigued; 
tired  out. 

Donothing,  ;/.     One  who  does  nothing;  an  idler. 

Don't,  v.  For  do  not.  The  double  negative  often  used:  as, 
"  They  don  t  have  no  money." 

Doodle-bug,  n.  Ant-lion.  A  kind  of  beetles  which  live  in 
the  ground  in  holes.  By  calling  "  doodle"  near  their  holes 
it  is  said  the  bugs  will  come  out. 

Doom,  n.     To  end  of  time.      "The  crack  of  doom." 


120  Door — Dowdy. 

Door,  11.  Next  door  to;  near  to;  bordering  on;  very  nearly: 
as,  next  door  to  a  fool,  he  is  not  far  from  a  fool. 

Door-neigbours,  n.  People  living  next  door  to  each  other; 
"  next-door-neighbours." 

Door-sill,  ;/.  The  piece  of  wood  at  the  bottom  of  the  door, 
over  which  all  have  to  pass.     Threshold.      Door-step. 

Doorstep,  n.     Threshold. 

Dooryard,  n.     A  yard  about  a  door. 

Dormant  window,  n.     Window  in  a  slanting  roof. 

Dot,  n.     A  speck;  a  small  speck  on  a  surface. 

Dot,  v.  To  make  dots  or  spots.  "  Dot  and  carry;  "  to  add  as 
at  school,  dot  down  the  units,  and  carry  the  tens  to  the  next 
column. 

Dotage,  n.  The  state  of  one  who  dotes;  feebleness  of  mind  in 
old  age;  second  childhood. 

Dote,  v.  To  bestow  excessive  love;  lavishing  extravagant  lik- 
ing.    (2)  To  decay,  as  a  tree. 

Doty,  adj.  Decayed;  decaying;  applied  to  timber  or  old  trees. 
Doty  wood,  decayed  wood.     Doted. 

Double-trouble,  n.      Double  shuffle;  kind  of  dance. 

Doughface,  n.      A  mask  made  of  thick  paper  moulded  to  form, 

and  usually  of  hideous  aspect. 
Doughy,  adj.      Not  thoroughly  baked,  as  bread;  consisting  in 

part  of  unbaked  dough;  half-baked. 
Do  up,  v.      To  mend;  repair.      "  He  must  do  up  my  hat." 
Douse,  v.     To  put  out  a  light. 
Douse,  n.     A  blow;  a  stroke;  a  blow  in  the  face. 
Douse,  v.     To  plunge  into  a  fluid;  to  drench  with  a  fluid. 
Douse,  v.     To  strike  or  lower  in  haste;  slacken  suddenly:  as, 

to  douse  sail. 
Dowdy,    adj.       Slovenly;    ill-dressed;    slatternly:    applied    to 

women. 


Dowel— Dram.  121 

Dowel,  ;/.  A  wooden  pin  used  to  fasten  two  pieces  of  wood 
together. 

Dowlas,  n.  Dowlass.  Dowlace.  A  strong  and  coarse  linen 
cloth. 

Down,  <((/;'.  To  be  sick  in  bed:  as  down  with  the  measles; 
down  with  chills,  with  chills  and  fevers. 

Down-face,  v.  To  contradict  flatly.  "She  downfaced  him 
that  she  didn't  say  it." 

Downhearted,  adj.     Dejeced;  depressed;  discouraged. 

Downright,  adj.  Plain;  unambiguous:  as,  "  He  is  a  downright 
liar." 

Downright,  adv.     Completely;  thoroughly;  utterly. 

Downstairs,  adj.  Pertaining  or  relation  to,  or  situated  on,  the 
lower  floor  of  a  house:  as,  "  He  is  in  one  of  the  downstairs 
rooms. ' ' 

Doze,  v.  To  sleep  lightly,  or  fitfully;  especially,  to  fall  into  a 
light  sleep  intentionally.  To  be  in  a  state  of  drowsiness; 
be  dull  or  half  asleep. 

Drabble,  v.  To  draggle;  make  dirty,  as  by  dragging  in  the 
mud  and  water;  wet  and  befoul. 

Drabbletail,  //.      A  slattern. 

Drag,  v.  To  break  the  clods  by  hauling  an  iron-toothed  drag 
over  the  ploughed  ground. 

Draggle,  v.  To  drag  or  draw  along  on  damp  ground  or  mud, 
or  on  wet  grass;  to  drabble. 

Draggletailed,  adj.      Untidy;   bedraggled. 

Draggletail,  n.      An  untidy  woman. 

Draggly,  adj.  Bedraggled.  "  She  came  through  the  tall  grass 
with  her  coats  all  draggly. ' ' 

Dram,  n.  As  much  spirits  as  is  drunk  at  once.  As  liquor  was 
furnished  to  soldiers  on  service  it  was  usually  spoken  of  as 
drams:  ' '  a  bottle  of  drams. ' ' 


122  Dram — Drench. 

Dram,  v.     To  give  a  dram  or  drams  to;  ply  with  drink. 

Drap,  n.      Drop:   "a  drap  of  something  to  drink." 

Draw,  v.  To  injure  paint  by  being  near  the  fire.  "  Heat  will 
draw  the  paint." 

Draw-bar,  n.  A  bar  or  set  of  bars,  in  a  fence,  which  can  be 
drawn  back  or  let  down  to  allow  passage,  as  along  a  road  or 
path. 

Draw-bucket,  ;/.      A  bucket  to  draw  water  from  a  well. 

Drawing  the  long  bow,  phr.     Telling  exaggerated  stories. 

Draw  straws,  v.  To  decide  a  thing,  a  number  of  straws  of 
unequal  lengths  are  held  in  the  hand  each  person  drawing 
one,  the  longest  straw  winning. 

Draw-string,  ;/.     A  string  in  the  mouth  of  a  bag  to  close  it. 

Drawl,  v.  To  speak  with  a  slow,  spiritless  utterance,  from 
affectation,  laziness  or  want  of  interest. 

Drawl,  n.     The  act  of  drawling;  a  slow,  unanimated  utterance. 

Draw  up,  v.  To  move  one's  seat  up  to  a  table  to  eat.  ''Drazv 
up  your  chair  and  have  some  supper." 

Draw-well,  u.  A  deep  well  from  which  water  is  drawn  by  a 
sweep,  a  long  pole  and  bucket. 

Drean,  //.      A  small  stream  of  water;  a  small  ditch. 

Drean,  v.  To  drean;  to  drean  water  off  from  land;  to  draw 
off  gradually;  to  dry  by  letting  the  water  drean:  as,  from  a 
hanging  cloth. 

Drearisome,  adj.     Very  dreary;  gloomy;  forlorn. 

Dreggy,  adj.  Containing  dregs  or  lees;  consisting  of  dregs; 
foul;  muddy. 

Dregs,  ;/.  pi.  Sediment  of  liquors;  grounds;  any  foreign  mat- 
ter of  liquors  that  subsides  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  con- 
taining them. 

Drench,  >i.      Draught  tor  a  sick  horse. 


Drench— Drive.  123 

Drench,  v.  To  wet  thoroughly;  soak;  till  or  cover  with  water  or 
other  fluid. 

Dress,  v.  To  clean  and  prepare  for  food:  to  dress  poultry;  to 
dress  salad ;  salad-dressing. 

Dressing,  >i.     Stuffing  of  a  fowl;  gravy. 

Dressing,  n.     A  whipping.      "  To  give  him  a  dressing." 

Dresser,  n.     A  set  of  shelves  for  dishes  and  cooking  utensils. 

Dress  up,  v.  To  dress  one's  self  with  special  care;  put  on 
one's  best  clothing,  or  different  garments  from  those  com- 
monly worn. 

Dressy,  adj.     Fond  of  dress;  given  to  showy  dressing. 

Dribble,  v.  To  fall  in  drops  or  a  quick  succession  of  drops. 
(2)  To  move  slowlv;  a  boy  dribbles  by  shooting  his  marble, 
rolling  along  the  ground  slowly  towards  its  object. 

Dribblet,  ;/.  A  small  piece  or  part;  any  inconsiderable  part  of 
a  whole.      "  He  gave  out  the  money  in  driblets." 

Dribblings,  n.  pi.      Drippings  of  any  liquid. 

Drill,  v.      To  sow  in  rows,  channels  or  drills:  as,  to  drill  wheat. 

Drilling,  n.      A  stout  linen  or  cotton  cloth. 

Drink,  n.  Strong  or  intoxicating  liquor:  as,  a  craving  for  drink. 
A  draught;  as  much  of  any  liquid  as  may  be  taken  at  one 
time:  as,   "  Have  a  drink  f  " 

Drinking-napkin,  n.  Drinking-towel.  A  napkin  tied  under 
the  chin  to  protect  the  clothes  while  drinking. 

Drinking-water,  n.  Water  used  for  drinking.  "  This  farm 
has  good  drinking-water  on  it." 

Drip,  v.      To  let  fall  in  drops. 

Drippin-wet,  adj.  Thoroughly  wet  from  rain  so  that  the  water 
runs  off.  "He  was  out  in  the  rain  and  came  in  drippin- 
wet.  ' ' 

Drive,  v.  To  be  conveyed  in  a  carriage;  travel  in  a  vehicle 
drawn  by  one  or  more  horses.  (2)  To  aim  or  tend:  as, 
"  What  are  you  driving  at?  " 


124  Droll— Drudge. 

Droll,  adj.      Ludicrous;  queer;  laughable. 

Drone.  ;/.      An  idler;  a  sluggard;  one  who  lives  on  the  labour 

of  another. 
Droop,  v.     To  sink  or  hang  down;  bend  or  hang  downward. 

To  be  weak  and  heavy  from  sickness.        '  He  drooped  and 

died." 

Droopy,  adj.  Drooping;  bending  or  hanging  down.  '  The 
flowers  are  going  to  die,  they  look  mighty  droopy." 

Drop,  v.     To  give  birth  to  a  colt.      "  My  mare  dropped  a  colt 

to-day." 
Drop,  v.      To  let  go;  dismiss;  lay  aside;  break  off  from:  as,  to 

drop  an  acquaintance. 

Dropoff,:'.  To  fall  asleep.  "Mary  didn't  sleep  much  last 
night,  she's  just  dropped  off  now." 

Drop-dumpling,  n.  A  dumpling  made  of  corn-meal  and 
dropped  into  a  pot  where  a  ham  is  cooking  to  be  cooked 
with  the  cabbage. 

Drouth,  ;/.      Dry  weather;  want  of  rain.      Thirst;  want  of  drink. 

Drouthy,  adj.     Dry;  thirsty,  requiring  drink;  thirsty  from  heat 

or  lever. 
Drownded,  past.  pari.      For  dro'u'ned. 

Drove,    n.       A    number   of    animals    together.        "A    drove  of 
horses; ,;    "a  drove  of  cattle;  "   a  flock  of  sheep. 

Drown  the  miller,  v.     To  pour  too  much  water  into  the  spirit 

when  mixing  grog. 
Drowse,  v      To  be  heavy  with  sleepiness;  be  half  asleep. 
Drowsy,  adj.      Inclined  to  sleep;  sleepy;  heavy  with  sleep. 
Drowsy-headed,  adj.     Sleepy-headed. 
Drub,  v.      To  beat  with  a  stick;  belabour;  thrash. 
Drubbing,  >i.      Sound  beating. 

Drudge,  n.  A  dredge.  "  They  have  been  arrested  for  drudg- 
ing oysters  against  the  law." 


Drudge — Duberous.  125 

Drudge,  v.  To  dredge;  to  catch  oysters  in  deep  water  with  a 
drudge — dredge. 

Drudge,  n.  One  who  toils  at  servile  or  mechanical  labour.  A 
spiritless  toiler. 

Drudge,  v.  To  work  hard  at  servile  or  uninteresting  work; 
labour  in  tedious  dragging  tasks.  "He  drudges  all  the 
week." 

Drudgery,;/.     The  labour  of  a  drudge;  ignoble;  spiritless  toil. 

Drudging-box,  n.  Dredging-box.  A  small  box,  usually  of 
tin  with  holes  in  the  top,  used  to  sprinkle  flour  on  roasting 
meat,  or  a  kneading-board. 

Drugs,  n.  pi.      Dregs;  sediment  in  any  liquid. 

Drumline,  n.     A  stout  line  used  in  drum-fishing. 

Drumstick,  ;/.  From  its  shape,  the  lower  joint  of  the  leg  of  a 
dressed  fowl,  as  a  turkey. 

Drunkards,  n.  pi.  Small  flies  that  fly  about  and  light  in  sweet- 
ened liquors. 

Dry  out,  v.  The  act  of  separating  fat  by  heat.  "We  have 
been  drying  out  lard  all  day." 

Dry,  adj.      Humourous  or  sarcastic;  slily  witty  or  caustic. 

Dry,  adj.  Thirsty.  "  I'm  as  dry  as  a  fish."  (2)  Not  giving 
milk.      Said  of  cows:  as,   "  a  dry  cow." 

Dry-belly-ache,  ;/.  Strong  pains  in  the  belly  without  loose- 
ness of  the  bowels.  "  He  looks  like  he  had  the  dry-belly- 
ache. ' ' 

Dry-gripes,  ;/.  Pains  in  the  belly  without  looseness,  same  as 
dry-belly-ache. 

Dry  so,  adv.      In  that  manner.      "  He  said  it  just  dry  so." 

Dub,  v.     To  cut  down  with  an  adze. 

Dubbin,  n.  A  preparation  of  grease  for  use  in  currying 
leather. 

Duberous,  adj.     Doubtfull. 


\ 


l"26  Dubersome — Dull. 

Dubersome,  adj.      Doubting;  an  uncertain  state  of  mind. 

Dubious,  adj.  Doubting;  hesitating;  wavering  or  fluctuating 
in  opinion,  but  inclined  to  doubt. 

Dubs,  n.  pi.  Doublets  at  marbles.  A  player  knocking  two 
marbles  out  of  the  ring  cries,  "  dubs"  and  thereby  claims 
both.  If  a  boy  says  "  vents"  first,  the  other  cannot  take 
the  two,  but  only  one. 

Duck,  n.     Strong  linen  or  cotton  fabric  woven  plain.      Ducking. 

Duck,  v.  To  dip  or  plunge  in  water  and  immediately  with- 
draw. (2)  To  lower  or  bend  down  suddenly,  or  in  saluting 
awkwardly. 

Duck,  v.     To  dip  a  person's  head  under  water  by  force. 

Duck-fit,  n.  Sportively.  In  a  great  state  of  excitement  about 
a  thing.  "  I  thought  she'd  have  a  duck-fit  when  the  circus 
came  by." 

Duck-house,  >i.  A  house  with  the  door  low  to  the  ground 
that  ducks  may  go  in  and  out  easily. 

Duck-legged,  adj.      Having  short  legs  like  a  duck. 

Dudgeon,  n.  A  state  of  offense;  resentment;  sullen  anger. 
"  He  was  in  high  dudgeon." 

Duds,  n.  pi.     Clothes;  especially  poor  or  ragged  clothing. 

Due,  adv.  Directly;  exactly;  only  with  reference  to  the  points 
of  the  compass.      "The  wind  was  due  west."' 

Duff,  n.      Name  given  to  all  sorts  of  dessert.      University  word. 

Duffels,  >i.  Duffles.  A  coarse  woolen  cloth  having  a  thick 
nap,  generally  knotted. 

Duftail,  >i.     Dovetail.     A  manner  of  joining  the  ends  of  planks 

to  make  boxes,  used  by  carpenters. 

Dug,  u.      The  breast  of  a  woman  or  female  animal. 
Dugout,  ;/.       A  boat  made  of  a  hollowed  out  log. 

Dull,  adj.  Stupid;  foolish;  slow  of  understanding.  (2)  Not 
sharp  or  acute;  blunt:  as,  a  dull  knife;  a  ^//needle. 


Dull— Dunghill.  127 

Dull,  v.  To  make  less  sharp  or  acute;  render  blunt:  as,  to  dull 
a  knife. 

Dull,  adj.      "Dull  of  hearing,"  hard  of  hearing. 

Dumb,  adj.  Lacking  some  usual  power,  manifestation,  char- 
acteristic, or  accompaniment:  as,  a  dzimb  ague,  an  ague  which 
is  not  accompanied  by  the  usual  shakings. 

Dumb-cake,  n.  A  cake  made  in  silence,  on  St.  Mark's  Eve, 
with  numerous  ceremonies,  by  girls,  to  discover  their  future 
husbands. 

Dumb-creeters,  n.  pi.     The  lower  animals. 

Dumfounder,  v.     To  strike  dumb;  confuse;  stupify;  confound. 

Dummy,  ad/.  Silent;  mute;  sham;  fictitious;  feigned:  as,  a 
dummy  watch. 

Dump,  v.  To  throw  or  put  down  a  mass  or  load  of  anything; 
unload;  especially  to  throw  down  or  cause  to  fall  out  by  the 
lifting  up  of  a  cart. 

Dumplin,  n.  A  mass  of  corn-meal  and  water  made  into  a  flat- 
tish  ball  and  put  into  a  dinner-pot  where  a  ham  and  cabbage 
were  cooking,  boiled  not  baked. 

Dumps,  n.  pi.  A  gloomy  state  of  mind;  sadness;  sorrow; 
melancholy;  heaviness  of  heart. 

Dumpy,  adj.      Short  and  thick;  squat. 

Dun,  ;/.  One  who  duns.  A  demand  for  the  payment  of  a  debt, 
especially  a  written  one.      To  dun,  v. ,  1 7 5 1 . 

Dun,  adj.  Colour  partaking  of  brown  and  black;  of  a  dull 
brown  colour. 

Dunce,  //.      A  dull-witted,  stupid  person. 
Dunderhead,  n.     A  dunce;  a  numskull. 

Dungaree,  n.     A  coarse  cotton  stuff,  generally  blue,  worn  by 

sailors. 

Dunghill,  a.     A  heap  of  dung.     One's  own  dunghill,  his  home. 


128  Dungil — Dying-day. 

Dungil,  ;/.  Dunghill;  a  cowardly,  mean-spirited  fellow;  a 
"dung-hill  cock,"  as  distinguished  from  a  game-cock. 

Dunnage,  ;/.  Loose  wood  laid  in  the  hold  of  a  ship  to  raise 
heavy  goods  above  the  bottom  and  prevent  injury  from 
water. 

Durance,  >i.  A  kind  of  durable  stuff  made  of  silk  or  thread. 
"A  green  du  rants  short  coat." 

Dusk,  n.     Twilight:  as,  "the  dusk  of  the  evening." 

Duskish,  n.      Moderately  dusky;  partially  obscure. 

Duskish,  adj.  The  time  of  getting  dark.  "  It  was  getting 
duskish  when  they  came  back." 

Dust,  ;/.  A  small  quantity  of  any  powdered  substance.  A 
beggar  will  often  say:  "I  haven't  a  dust  of  meal  in  the 
house."     (2)  Money:   "down  with  the  dusty 

Dust,  n.      Discord;   embroilment:  as,  to  kick  up  a  dust. 

Duster,  n.  A  light  overcoat  or  wrap  worn  to  protect  the  cloth- 
ing from  dust,  especially  in  travelling. 

Dusty,  adj.  Filled,  covered,  or  sprinkled  with  dust:  as,  a 
dusty  road. 

Dutch,  n.  Any  speech  not  understood  is  said  to  be  "  Dutch." 
"  That's  all  Dutch  to  me." 

Dwelling,  n.  A  place  of  residence  or  abode;  a  house  for  resi- 
dence. 

Dwelling-house,  u.      A  house  occupied  as  a  residence. 

Dwindle,  v.      To  diminish;  become  less;  shrink;  waste  away. 

Dyed  in  the  wool,  adj.  Ingrained;  thorough.  "  He's  a  bap- 
tist, dyed  in  the  wool." 

Dye-pot,  ;/.  A  large,  earthen-ware  pot  in  which  putrid  urine, 
indigo,  etc.,  were  put  for  dyeing  of  a  blue  colour. 

Dying-day,  ;/.  The  day  of  one's  death.  "  I'll  remember  it 
'till  my  dying-day.^ ' 


Each— Easterly.  129 

E 

Each,  n.     Form  of  itch. 

Eachy,  adj.     Itchy.      "  Mosquito  bites  are  very  eachy." 

Ear,  n.  A  head  of  corn,  or  grain;  that  part  of  a  cereal  plant 
which  contains  the  flowers  and  seeds. 

Ear,  v.  To  shoot,  as  a  ear;  form  ears,  as  corn.  "The  corn 
has  eared  very  well  this  season." 

Ear,  n.  The  metal  catches  on  the  upper  edges  of  metal  and 
wooden  buckets  into  which  the  handle  is  fastened  for  lift- 
ing them.  Also,  the  place  where  the  pothooks  are  hooked 
for  lifting  or  hanging  a  dinner-pot. 

Ear-bob,  n.     A  ear-ring  or  ear-drop. 

Ear-drops,  n.  pi.     Ear-rings  of  all  shapes. 

Eared,  adj.     Having  ears  as  grain.      "  The  corn  is  well  eared." 

Early,  adv.  Near  the  initial  point  of  some  reckoning  in  time: 
as,  early  in  the  morning. 

Earning,  n.  That  which  is  earned;  wages;  compensation; 
used  chiefly  in  the  plural.  "  His  earnings  keep  his  family 
in  comfortable  circumstances." 

Ears,  n.  pi.     "  You  make  so  much  noise  I  can't  hear  my  ears." 

Ears,  n.  pi.  The  handles  of  a  pot,  by  which  it  is  held  with  the 
hands,  or  by  pot-hooks. 

Ear-shot,  n.  Reach  of  hearing;  the  distance  at  which  words 
may  be  heard.  "  He  was  out  of  earshot  before  I  could  tell 
him." 

Ear-wax,  n.     Cerumen  that  gathers  in  the  ear. 

Ear-wig,  n.  A  small  insect  with  many  legs,  said  to  crawl  into 
the  ear  and  injure  it. 

Ease,  v.     To  ease  one's  self;  to  relieve  the  bowels. 

East,  n.     A  form  of  yeast.     For  making  dough  rise. 

Easterly,  adj.  Coming  from  the  east:  as,  an  "  easterly  wind;  " 
an  ' '  easterly  rain ;  "  an  "  easterly  spell. ' ' 


130  Easy — Elaboratory. 

Easy,  adv.     Softly;  gently.      Cl  Walk  easy;  "  "  talk  easy." 

Easy-going,  adj.  Inclined  to  take  matters  in  an  easy  way, 
without  jar  or  friction;  good-natured. 

Eat,  v.     To  taste;  relish:  as,  it  eats  like  the  finest  peach. 

Eat  short,  v.  Anything  is  said  to  "  eat-short  "  when  it  is  crisp 
and  crumbly  in  the  mouth. 

Edge,  ;/.  The  extreme  border  or  margin  of  anything;  the 
brink:  as,  the  "  edge  of  a  table." 

Edge,  v.  To  move  sideways,  as  if  by  force.  "  He  edged  him- 
self through  the  crowd." 

Edgeways,  adv.  With  the  edge  turned  forward  or  towards  a 
particular  point.  (2)  When  others  have  monopolized  the 
talk  it  is  said:   "  I  couldn't  get  a  word  in  edgeways." 

Egg,  v.     To  incite  or  urge;  encourage;  instigate;  provoke. 

Egg-bag,  n.  Some  intimate  part  of  the  anatomy  supposed  to 
be  effected  by  intense  desire  for  something.  "  I  hope  his 
egg-bag  is  easy  at  last. ' ' 

Edify,  v.     To  educate.      "  He  shall  be  edified  in  reading." 

Eende,  ;/.  For  end.  One  of  the  terminal  parts  of  that  which 
has  length,  or  more  length  than  thickness. 

Ef,  conj.     For  if. 

Egg-nogg,  71.  A  drink  made  of  brandy,  eggs,  cream  and 
sugar. 

Egregious,  adj.  In  a  bad  sense.  Extreme.  "  He  threatened 
and  abused  A  in  a  most  egregious  manner." 

Either,  adj.  Used  in  the  sense  of  each.  Either,  really  means 
one  of  two;  each,  one  single  individual  of  several;  they  are 
often  confounded :  as,  "  There  are  trees  on  either  side  of  the 
road,"  when  both  is  meant.  Never  eyether.  A  schoolmas- 
ter invention. 

Elaboratory,  >i.     Laboratory. 


Elbow— End-all.  131 

Elbow,  v.  To  make  or  gain  by  pushing,  as  with  the  elbows: 
as,  to  elbow  one's  way  through  a  crowd. 

Elbow-grease,  n.  A  term  for  energetic  hand  labour,  as  in  rub- 
bing, scouring. 

Elbow-room,  n.  Room  to  extend  the  elbows;  hence,  freedom 
from  confinement;  ample  room  for  motion  or  action. 

Elder-gun,  n.  Popgun  made  of  elder  wood  by  shoving  out 
the  pith,  dogwood  berries  being  used  for  ammunition. 

Elderly,  adj.  Somewhat  old;  advanced  beyond  the  middle 
age;  bordering  on  old  age. 

Eldest,  adj.     Oldest;  that  was  born  first:  as,  the  eldest  son. 

Element,  n.     The  sky;  the  firmament;  the  atmosphere. 

Ell,  n.  A  measure  of  length  used  for  yard.  A  measure  of  45 
inches.      "Ell and  Yard." 

Ellenyard,  n.  The  yard-stick.  The  three  stars  in  the  belt  of 
Orion. 

Ellum,  n.     A  form  of  elm. 

Era, pron.     Them.      "  I  don't  like  em."     Sometimes,  tim. 

Embers,  n.pl.  Live  cinders  or  ashes;  the  smouldering  remains 
of  a  fire. 

Emblem,  n.  Any  object  whose  predominant  quality  symbol- 
izes something  else,  as  another  quality,  condition,  state,  and 
the  like;  the  figure  of  such  an  object  used  as  a  symbol;  an 
allusive  figure.      "  What  is  a  rose  the  emblem  of?  " 

Employment,  n.  Work  or  business  of  any  kind,  physical  or 
mental;  that  which  engages  the  head  or  the  hands;  any- 
thing that  engages  time  or  attention;  office  or  position  in- 
volving business. 

Empt,  v.     To  deprive  of  contents.     To  empty. 

Empty,  adj.     Wanting  food;  fasting;  hungry. 

Emptins,  n.  pi.     That  which  is  emptied  out.      Emtyings. 

End-all,  n.     That  which  ends  all;  conclusion. 


132  End-irons — Eve. 

End-irons,  n.  pi.  Short,  thick,  bars  of  iron  used  to  hold  the 
ends  of  the  sticks  in  a  wood-fire  built  on  a  hearth.  And- 
irons. 

End-on,  adj.     In  a  great  hurry.      "  He  went  at  it  end-on." 

End-up,  v.     To  stand  up  on  end;  to  lift  up. 

Endure,  v.      "  H.  with  his  hair  powdered,  as  I  endure." 

Endure,  v.  To  bear  with  patience;  bear  up  under  without 
sinking  or  yielding,  or  without  murmuring  or  opposition; 
put  up  with. 

Enduring,  prep.  During:  the  whole  enduring  day;  all  day 
long.      A  continuous  time. 

Endways,  adv.     On  end;  erectly;  in  an  upright  position. 

Engaging,  p.  a.  Winning;  attractive;  tending  to  draw  the 
attention,  the  interest,  or  the  affections;  pleasing:  as,  engag- 
ing manners  or  address. 

English,  n.     For  white  people,  to  distinguish  from  Indians. 

English,  v.     To  turn  into  English  from  any  other  language. 

English  ell,  n.     Equal  to  i}(  yards. 

Entertain,  v.  Provide  for;  support;  hence,  to  take  into  service: 
as,  "  A.  was  entertained  by  X.  as  his  overseer." 

Entire,  adj.  Not  castrated;  uncut:  as,  an  entire  horse,  a  stal- 
lion, as  distinguished  from  a.  gelding. 

Entirely,  adv.  Wholly;  completely;  fully:  as,  the  money  is 
entirely  lost. 

Entry,  n.  An  entrance-room  in  a  building,  or  any  similar 
means  of  access;  an  entrance  or  small  hole. 

Eow,  n.      Yoe.      Yowe.     A  female  sheep. 

Et,  v.  Perfect  and  past  part,  of  eat.  "  He  et  his  dinner  at  i 
o'clock. 

Eve,  n.  The  period  just  preceding  some  specific  event;  a  space 
of  time  near  the  happening  of  something  else:  as,  on  the 
eve  of  going. 


Even— Ewst.  133 

Even,  v,  To  make  even  or  level;  level;  lay  smooth.  "  He 
has  gone  to  even  the  rucks  in  the  road." 

Even- down,  adj.  Downright;  direct;  plain;  flat:  an  even- 
down lie. 

Even-handed,  adj.     Impartial;  rightly  balanced;  equitable. 

Evening,  n.  Time  between  noon  and  dark,  including  after- 
noon and  twilight.  In  saluting  a  person  after  night,  "  eve- 
ning" is  used;  except  when  taking  leave,  then,  "Good- 
night. ' ' 

Everlasting,  adj.  Recurring  without  cessation;  happening 
again  and  again  without  end;  incessant:  as,  "these  everlast- 
ing disputes. ' ' 

Everlasting,  n.  A  strong  woollen  stuff.  "  Black  everlasting 
stockings." 

Everlastingly,  adv.  Continually;  incessantly:  as,  "You  are 
everlastingly  grumbling. ' ' 

Every  days,  n.  pi.  Weekdays.  "  Sundays  and  everyday  s. " 
"Everyday  clothes." 

Every  once  in  a  while.  The  same  as  every  now  and  then. 
Something  taking  place  at  irregular  intervals. 

Every  other,  adv.      "Every  other  day,"  for  every  second  day. 

Every  other  one.     Every  alternate  one. 

Everything,  n.  Very  much;  a  great  deal:  as,  "He  thinks 
everything  of  her." 

Everywhere,  adv.  Wherever;  to  whatever  place  or  point:  as, 
1 '  You  will  see  them  everywhere  you  go. ' ' 

Every  which  way,  adv.  Every  way.  Scattered  in  all  parts. 
"  You  will  find  his  things  scattered  every  which  way." 

Evidence,  n.     A  witness;  an  evidence. 

Ewe-necked,  adj.  Yoe  necked.  Having  a  thin,  hollow  neck 
like  -a  yoe. 

Ewst,  v.  Past  tense.  Used;  was  accustomed.  "  He  eivst  to 
go." 


134  Exactly— Fad. 

Exactly,  adv.  Precisely;  according  to  rule,  measure,  fact,  cir- 
cumstances, etc.;.  with  minute  correctness;  accurately. 
"  That  is  the  right  size  exactly." 

Expect,  v.  To  suppose;  reckon;  conclude;  applied  to  things 
past  or  present,  as  well  as  to  things  future:  as,  "I  expect  he 
went  to  town  yesterday. ' ' 

Eye,  n.     The  bud  in  a  potato  from  which  a  stalk  springs. 

Eyelet-hole,  n.  A  small  round  hole  worked  round  the  edge 
like  a  buttonhole,  used  in  dressmaking,  sailmaking  and  the 

like. 

Eye-opener,  n.  A  drink  of  strong  liquor  taken  in  the  morn- 
ing. 

Eyes  bigger  than  the  belly.  A  person  is  said  to  have  his 
"eyes  bigger  than  his  belly,"  when  he  takes  more  on  his 
plate  than  he  can  eat. 

Eyesight,  n.      "I  know  him  by  eyesight  but  not  to  speak  to." 

Eyesore,  ;/.  A  disfigurement;  something  which  offends  the 
eye  and  spoils  the  appearance  of  a  thing.  ' '  That  old  house 
is  an  eyesore,  I  wish  it  was  pulled  down." 

Eyewinker,  n.     An  eyelash. 

F 

Face,  v.     To  answer  an  accuser.      "  I  can  face  him." 

Face,  v.  To  cover  some  part  of  a  garment,  as  the  hem,  with 
another  material. 

Face-card,  v.     A  coat  card. 

Face  down,  v.  Down  face.  To  withstand  or  put  down  by 
audacity  or  effrontery. 

Facing,  ;/.  That  part  of  the  lining  of  any  garment  which  cov- 
ers those  parts  that  are  turned  over  or  in  any  way  exposed  to 
general  view. 

Fack,  ;/.     A  fact. 

Fad,  n.      A  whim;  a  fancy. 


Fader— Fallow.  135 

Fader,  ;/.     Father. 

Faddle,  n.     Nonsense:  as,  "  That's  all  f addle." 

Fag,  v.     To  tire  by  labour;  exhaust:  as,  "We  were  completely 

fagged  out." 
Fag-end,  n.     The  latter  or  meaner  part  of  anything;  the  very 

end. 
Fail,  v.     To  show  signs  of  growing  old.     "  He  begins  to  fail." 

Fainty,  adj.  Faint;  feeble;  languid;  exhausted.  "  I  feel  very 
fainty."  (2)  Fainty.  That  causes  a  feeling  of  faintness. 
"  These  flowers  have  a  fainty  smell." 

Fair,  v.  To  clear  up;  cease  raining:  as,  "It  will  fair  up  to- 
ward night." 

Fair-shake,  n.  Fair  play;  fair  chance.  "  Give  him  a  fair- 
shake.  ' ' 

Fall,  n.     Bout  at  wrestling. 

Fall,  n.     A  terrace.      "There  are  three  falls  in  the  garden." 

Fall,  n.  The  quantity  of  rain  or  snow  that  falls  at  one  time. 
"  There  was  a  heavy  fall  of  rain  last  night." 

Fall,  n.  The  season  when  leaves  fall  from  the  trees.  Fall  of 
the  year.  The  months  of  September,  October,  and  No- 
vember. 

Fall,  v.     To  cut  down  a  tree:  as,  to  fall a  tree;  to  fall  timber. 

Fallen,  v.     "A  cow-calf  that  is  fallen  this  year. "     "  Dropped. 

Falling-axe,  n.     A  narrow,  thin-bladed  axe  for  falling  trees; 

distinguished  from  liezving-axe. 
Fall  out,  v.     To  quarrel.       "  They  used  to  be  great  friends, 

but  they  fell  out  about  something." 
Falling-table,  ;/.     A  table  with  leaves  to  let  down. 

Falling-weather,  n.     A  rainy,  or  snowy  time.       Weather  in 

which  rain,  hail,  or  snow,  may  be  expected. 
Fallow,  n.     Land  ploughed  and  left  unseeded. 


136  Fall  through— Farrow. 

Fall  through,  v.  To  fail;  to  come  to  nothing:  the  plan  fell 
through.     , 

Fambly,  n.      Family. 

Famish,  v.  Be  exhausted  through  want  of  food  or  drink; 
starved;  very  hungry.  "  Give  me  some  water  I  am  nearly 
famished." 

Fan,  n.  Wheat-fan.  An  implement  turned  by  hand,  used  for 
ridding  wheat  of  the  chaff. 

Fan,  v.     To  stir  about  briskly:  as,  "  She  goes  fanning  about." 

Fancy,  v.     To  take  a  fancy  to;  like;  be  pleased  with. 

Fancy,;/.  Inclination;  liking;  fondness.  "That  which  suits 
your  fancy. ' ' 

Fantods,  //.  A  fit  of  the  sulks  or  other  slight  indisposition, 
mental  or  bodily.  Fidgets;  restlessness;  a  state  of  anxiety 
or  excitement. 

Fare,  n.      Price  of  passage  by  land  or  water. 

Far-fetched,  adj.  Remotely  connected;  irrelevant;  forced; 
strained :  as,  far-fetched  conceits. 

Farmer,  //.  The  early  meaning  was,  one  who  rented  or  leased 
land  and  tilled  it  for  his  own  benefit. 

Farrow,  n.  A  litter  of  pigs.  The  number  of  pigs  borne  by  a 
sow  at  one  time. 

Farting-spell,  n.     A  short  space  of  time. 

Fashion,  n.      Manner;  way;  mode:  as,  to  ride  man-fashion. 

Fast,  adv.     Soundly;  closely;  deeply:  as,  fast  asleep. 

Fast,  adv.     Swiftly;  rapidly;  quickly:  as,  it  rains  fast. 

Fasting-spittle,  ?>.  The  saliva  of  a  fasting  person,  formerly 
held  to  be  very  efficacious  in  ceremonies,  charms,  etc. ;  also 
used  as  a  remedy. 

Farm-pen,  n.     Pen  in  which  stock  is  shut  up  and  fed. 

Farrow,  v.     To  have  pigs. 


Fat— Feather.  137 

Fat,  n.     A  large  open  vessel  for  water.     A  vat.     Tan-fat. 

Fat,  adj.  Containing  much  resin;  resinous:  as,  fat  pine;  fat 
lightvvood. 

Fat,  n.  Hog's  lard.  Fat-gourd,  a  gourd  used  for  holding 
lard. 

Fat,  adj.  In  playing  marbles  when  the  taw  stopped  in  the  ring 
it  was  "fat"  and  the  player  had  to  stop  playing  untill  next 
game. 

Fat-bread,  n.  Bread  made  of  corn-meal,  shortened  with  fat, 
or  hog's  lard. 

Fat-headed,  adj.     Dull;  stupid;  heavy-witted. 

Fattening-coob,  n.  Coop  in  which  fowls  are  put  and  fattened 
before  being  killed  for  food. 

Fattening-pen,  n.  Pen  where  hogs  were  put  to  be  fed  on  corn 
and  ' '  cleansed  ' '  before  killed  for  ' '  meat. ' ' 

Fatten-up,  v.  To  make  fat;  grow  fat.  "  You've  fattened  up 
since  I  saw  you." 

Fatty,  >i.     A  fat  person.      "  What  a.  fatty  he  is." 

Faut,«.  For  fault.  "  It's  your  faut."  Faught  rhymes  with 
taught  in  Chatterton. 

Fauty,  adj.  Defective;  imperfect.  "  The  apples  are  all  fauty 
this  year. ' ' 

Favour,  n.     Counternance;  appearance;  look;  features. 

Favour,  v.  To  resemble  in  features  or  aspect;  look  something 
like.      "  We  favours  his  father." 

Favoured,  adj.       Featured:    as,    a    hard-/ 'avoured  man;    well 

favoured. 
Faze,  v.     Disturb;  ruffle;  daunt:  as,  "  Nothing  fazes  him." 

Fearder,  adj.  More  afraid.  "He  is  fearder  to  go  than  to 
stay. ' ' 

Feather,  v.  To  feather  one's  nest,  to  make  one's  self  a  com- 
fortable place;  gather  wealth. 


138  Feather-edged — Fencing. 

Feather-edged,^'.  Having  one  thin  edge:  as,  feather-edge 
plank. 

Febuary,  n.     February. 

Feder,  n.     A  form  of  feather. 

Feed,  v.  To  fatten  cattle,  sheep  or  hogs  for  slaughter.  "  He 
is  an  old  steer  and  I  mean  to  feed  him." 

Feed,  n.  A  certain  allowance  of  provender  given:  as,  2ifeed  of 
oats. 

Feeding-time,  n.  The  time  for  giving  the  animals  their  feed 
at  12  o'clock,  and  at  night.  "  Come,  you  had  better  go  to 
the  'cuppen,'  it  is  feeding -time." 

Feed-trough,  n.     A  trough  in  which  is  put  food  for  animals. 

Feel,  n.  A  sensation  of  any  kind.  "  I  have  a  strange  feel  in 
my  head  to-day." 

Feeze,  n.  Worry;  fret.  To  be  in  a  feeze,  to  be  in  a  state  of 
excitement.     Feaze. 

Fell,  v.     To  hem  down  the  side  of  a  seam. 

Felled,  past  part.  Wilted  by  heat.  A  collard  leaf  felled  by 
having  hot  water  poured  over  it,  then  covered  with  fresh 
lard  is  the  common  dressing  for  a  blister;  and  as  a  remedy 
for  the  headache. 

Felloe,  n.  The  circular  rim  of  a  wheel  into  which  the  spokes 
are  set. 

Fellon,  n.  An  acute  and  painful  inflammation  of  the  finger 
near  the  nail.     Whitlow. 

Fence,  n.  Virginia  rail-fence,  worm  fence,  stake-and-rider 
fence,  according  to  the  way  of  making  it. 

Fence,  n.      Be  neutral  or  undecided,  as,  between  persons,  to 

be  "  on  the  fence. ' ' 

Fencing,  n.  That  which  fences;  an  enclosure  or  fence;  the 
fences  collectively.  "There  are  ten  miles  of  fencing  on 
this  farm. 


Fend-off— Figdlacs.  139 

Fend-off,  v.     To  parry;  to  ward  off. 

Fer,  ferrer,  ferrest,  adj.  F or  far,  farther,  farthest.  Fur, 
furder.     Farder,  farrer. 

Ferrel,  ?:.  A  metal  cap  put  on  the  end  of  a  cane  to  save  it 
from  splitting. 

Ferret,  n.  Formerly,  a  silk  tape  or  narrow  ribbon  used  for 
fastening  or  lacing.  Now,  a  narrow  worsted  or  cotton  rib- 
bon used  for  binding  or  shoe  strings. 

Ferret,  v.  To  search  out  by  perseverance  and  cunning:  com- 
monly followed  by  out. 

Fester,  n.  A  small  purulent  tumour,  a  superficial  suppuration 
resulting  from  irritation  of  the  skin,  the  pus  being  developed 
in  small  vesicles  of  irregular  figure  and  extent. 

Fester,  v.     To  become  a  fester;  generate  pus. 

Fetch,  v.  To  go  and  bring.  Bring  to  terms;  cause  to  come 
or  yield,  or  to  meet  one's  wishes:  as,  "  Money  will  fetch 
him,  if  persuasion  will  not." 

Fetcher,  n.  A  dog  that  will  go  into  the  water  and  fetch  any- 
thing out. 

Fib,  ;/.      A  white  lie. 

Fice,  ;/.     A  small,  worthless  dog. 

Fiddle-head,  n.  The  figurehead  of  a  vessel  was  sometimes 
made  in  the  shape  of  the  head  of  a  fiddle. 

Fiddler,  n.  A  small  crab,  with  a  very  large  claw  and  a  small 
one. 

Fiddling,/*,  a.     Trifling;  trivial;  fussily  busy  with  nothing. 

Fidget,  n.     Commonly  in  the  plural.      "To  have  the  fidgets. " 

Fidgety,  adj.  Being  in  a  fidget;  moving  about  uneasily;  rest- 
less; nervously  impatient. 

Field-hand,  n.     A  hand  who  works  in  the  field. 

Field-lark,  n.     A  bird  generally  called  "old-field-larky 

Figdlacs,  ? 


140  Figger — Fireback. 

Figger,  n.     Figure.      "  Dosn't  she  cut  a  figger?"     Figur. 

Figger,  v.     To  figure;  to  do  sums.      "  Let  me  figger  it  out." 

Fighting-cock,  n.  A  game-cock.  To  live  like  a  fighting- 
cock,  to  be  well  fed;  indulge  in  high  living. 

Figure,  v.  To  set  down,  or  reckon  up  in  numerical  figure; 
make  a  calculation  of:  as,  to  figure  up. 

Fike,  n.     A  sort  of  fishing  net;  a  net  with  bows. 

Fill,  n.  A  full  supply;  enough  to  satisfy  want  or  desire;  as 
much  as  gives  complete  satisfaction.  "I  have  got  my  fill 
of  oysters." 

Filliloo-bird,  n.  A  mythic  bird  that  sticks  his  bill  in  the 
sand  and  whistles  in  a  mysterious  way. 

Filling,  n.     The  woof-  or  weft-thread  of  a  woven  fabric. 

Filling,/),  a.  Calculated  to  fill,  satisfy,  or  satiate:  as,  "a  fill- 
ing diet." 

Filly, ;/.     A  young  woman;  a  lively,  hoydenish,  or  wanton  girl. 

Fillum,  n.  Film.  A  very  thick  skin  or  membrane;  an  atten- 
uated layer,  or  sheet  of  any  substance:  as,  a  fillum  over  the 
eye. 

Filthy,  adj.     Low;  scurvy;  contemptible;  mean. 

Find,  v.  To  support;  maintain;  provide  for:  to  find  in  victuals 
and  clothes.  Find  himself,  said  of  a  servant  who  provides 
his  own  food  and  lodgings. 

Find-fault,  u.     A  grumbler;  a  scold. 

Finger-stall,  ;/.  A  cover  worn  on  the  finger  to  protect  it,  as 
when  injured.  Usually  made  from  the  finger  of  an  old 
glove. 

Finickin,  adj.  Fussy;  fastidious;  unduly  particular  about 
trifles;  overnice.      Finakin. 

Fip,  ;/.     A  small  silver  coin,  6}(  cents. 

Fireback,  n.  A  large,  thick  piece  of  iron,  usually  cast,  put  in 
the  back  of  a  fireplace  to  protect  the  bricks,  and  throw  out 
heat.     Often  had  a  coat  of  arms. 


Fire-dog— Fist.  141 

Fire-dog,  //.     Same  as  andiron. 

Fire-coal,  ;/.     A  coal  of  burnt  wood;'  dead-coal;  live-coal. 

Fire-fanged,  adj.  Dried  up  as  by  fire.  "  It  has  been  so  hot 
and  dry  that  the  corn  is  fire-fang  ed." 

Fireplace,  n.  A  place  for  the  fire  in  which  the  fuel  is  supported 
on  andirons  or  is  put  on  the  hearth. 

Fireside,  n.  The  space  about  a  fire  or  hearth,  considered  es- 
pecially as  the  place  where  a  family  gathers  for  social  enjoy- 
ment. 

Firewood,  n.     Wood  for  fuel. 

Firmer-chisel,  n.  A  carpenter's  chisel  with  a  blade  thin  in 
proportion  to  its  width.  The  blade  is  fixed  to  the  handle 
by  a  shank. 

First,  adv.  Sooner;  before  doing  some  act.  "Is  that  job 
finished  ?  "      "It  wont  be  long  first. " 

First-name,  n.  The  first  of  a  person's  names;  baptismal 
name. 

First-rate,  n.  Something  rated  among  the  first  or  in  the  first 
class.     A  first-rate  horse. 

Fish,  v.  To  get  or  secure  in  a  way  with  some  difficulty  or 
search:  as,  to  fish  for  compliments. 

Fish-fry,  n.  A  picnic  where  the  fish  are  caught,  cooked  and 
eaten  near  the  place  of  catching.  "  We  are  going  to  have 
a  fish-fry  at  Buck  Roe  next  week." 

Fish-sound,  n.     The  swimming-bladder  or  air-sack  of  a  fish. 

Fishy,  adj.  Extravagant;  dubious  or  incredible;  unsound;  not 
to  be  trusted.      "  He  is  rather  fishy." 

Fisgig,  n.  A  worthless  fellow;  a  light-heeled  wench.  Adj. 
Frisky. 

Fissgig,  n.  Fish-gig.  An  instrument  with  barbed  prongs  for 
striking  fish. 

Fist,  n.  To  make  a  fist:  to  be  awkward  or  clumsy  in  doing 
anything.      "  He  makes  a.  fist  of  it." 


142  Fit—Flame. 

Fit,  >i.  An  attack  of  convulsive  disease.  An  attack  coming  on 
suddenly:  as,  a  fit  of  colic.  Fits  and  starts,  irregular  pe- 
riods of  action.  To  give  one  fits,  to  make  a  vigourous  at- 
tack on  one:  to  rate  or  scold  one  vigourously. 

Fit,  v.     Fought.     Past  tense  of  fight. 

Fit,  adj.  In  a  state  of  preparedness;  ready;  prepared:  as, 
"  He  laughed  as  if  he  was  fit  to  split."  "  It  looked  as  if  it 
was  /it  to  rain." 

Fitten,  adj.     Suitable:  as,  not  fitten  to  eat.      Noty?/  to  eat. 

Fittyfied,  adj.     Subject  to  tits,  spasms,  or  paroxysms.     Fitty. 

Fives,  >i.  />/.  A  game  played  by  striking  a  ball  against  a  wall 
with  the  hand. 

Fix,  //.      A  critical  condition;  a  predicament;  a  difficulty. 

Fix,  :•.  To  regulate;  adjust;  put  in  order;  arrange  in  a  suitable 
or  desired  way.      "  Let  me  fix  your  saddle." 

Fix,  :\  To  rest;  settle  down  or  remain  permanently;  cease 
from  wandering.      "  He  seems  to  be  fixed  at  last." 

Fixing,  //.  Establishment  in  life;  the  act  of  setting  up  in  house- 
keeping. 

Fixture,  //.     A  person  or  thing  which  holds  a  fixed  place  or 

position. 

Fix  up,  v.  To  mend;  repair;  contrive;  arrange;  dress  up. 
"  1  b's  fixing  up  to  go  to  church." 

Flabbergast,  v.  To  overcome  with  confusion  or  bewilderment; 
astonish,  with  ludicrous  effect;  confound. 

Flabby,  adj.  Without  firmness  or  elasticity;  hanging  loose  by 
its  own  weight;   lax;   flaccid;  said  ehielly  of  flesh :  as,  flab  by 

cheeks. 

Flag,  //.      A  flat  stone  used  for  paving.      Flag-stones. 

Flag,  v.     To  pave  with  flat  stones. 

Flagrant,  adj.     F 'or  fragrant.      "A  flagrant  smell. ' ' 

Flame,//.  An  objecl  or  the  passion  of  love:  as,  "She  was  my 
tust  flame." 


Flannen — Flawy.  143 

Flannen,  n.  A  warm,  loosely  woven  woollen  stuff,  used  espe- 
cially for  undergarments,  bed  covering,  etc.  Flannel. 
Flanill. 

Flapdoodle,  u.     Food  for  fools.     The  stuff  that  fools  are  fed  on. 

Flap-jack,  >i.      A  pancake.      Slapjack. 

Flare,  v.  To  burn  with  an  unsteady  light,  as  a  flame  in  a  cur- 
rent of  air. 

Flare-up,  ;/.      A  sudden  quarrel  or  angry  argument. 

Flashy,  adj.  Ostentatiously  showy  in  appearance;  gay;  gaudy; 
tawdry:  as,  a  "flashy  dress." 

Flashy,  adj.  Insipid;  vapid  ;  without  taste  or  spirit,  as  food  or 
drink. 

Flat,  n.  A  level  ground  near  water,  or  covered  by  water;  a 
shoal  or  sand  bank.  The  part  of  a  shore  that  is  uncovered 
at  low  tide. 

Flat,  adj.  Having  no  definite  or  characteristic  taste;  tasteless  ; 
stale;  vapid;  insipid;  dead.  (2)  Absolute;  downright; 
positive;  as,  "  I  say  no,  and  that's  /A?/." 

Flat-footed,  adj.      Firm-footed;  resolute. 

Flatform,  ;/.  Platform.  "  I  saw  him  standing  on  the  /latform 
when  the  train  came  in." 

Flat-iron,  n.      An   iron   without  a   box,  used   when   heated  for 

smoothing  clothes. 
Flat-ways,  adv.      With  the  flat  side  downward;   not  edgeways. 

Flaunt,  v.  To  display  ostentatiously,  impudently,  or  offen- 
sively. 

Flavour, ;/.  The  quality  of  a  substance  which  affects  the  smell, 
taste;   odour;   fragrance. 

Flaw,  n.  A  breach;  a  crack;  a  defect  of  continuity  or  cohe- 
sion; a  weak  spot  or  place. 

Flaw,  ;/.      A  sudden  gust  of  wind. 

Flawy,  adj.      Having  flaws  or  cracks;  broken;  defective;  faulty. 


144  Flawy— Flighty. 

Flawy,  adj.     Subject  to  sudden  flaws  or  gusts  of  wind. 

Flea,  v.     To  flay  off  the  skin.     To  skin. 

Fleabite,  ;/.     A  relatively  very  small  or  insignificant  quantity. 

Flea-bitten,  adj.     Colour  of  a  horse;  dark  brown  spots  on  a 
white  surface;    generally  the  sign  of  an  old  animal.      "A 
flea-bitten  mare." 

Fleak-fat,  n.  Flake  fat.  The  large  flakes  of  fat  in  a  hog's 
belly,  from  which  the  best  lard  is  made.      Fleck.     Flick. 

Fleam,  n.     A  sharp  instrument  for  opening  veins  in  horses. 

Fleece,  v.  To  strip  of  money  or  property  unfairly  or  under 
false  pretenses;  rob  heartlessly;  take  from  without  mercy. 

Fleece,  v.  To  whip.  Connected  with  the  sense  of  taking  off 
one's  fleece:  as,  "I  will  fleece  you." 

Fleeces,  ii.  pi.     Fleeces  of  snow:  snow-flakes  as  they  fall. 

Fleed,  v.      Flayed;  skinned. 

Fleeting-dish,  n.     A  shallow  dish  for  skimming  off  cream.     "  1 
jfleeteing  dish." 

Fleet-footed,  adj.  Swift  of  foot;  running  or  able  to  run  with 
rapidity. 

Fleshy,  adj.      Full  of  flesh;  plump;  fat:  as,  a. fleshy  man. 

Flick,  v.  To  strike  lightly  with  a  quick  jerk,  as  with  a  whip  or 
the  finger. 

Flicker,  n.  A  waving  or  fluctuating  gleam,  as  of  a  candle.  (2) 
A  woodpecker.     Flecker. 

Flicker,  v.  To  fluctuate  or  waver,  as  the  light  of  a  torch  in 
the  wind. 

Flight,  ;/.  Flight  of  steps.  The  part  of  a  stairway  leading 
from  one  floor  or  landing  to  another.  "  Up  two  flights  of 
steps. ' ' 

Flighty,  adj.  Indulging  in  flights  or  sallies  of  imagination, 
humor,  caprice;  given  to  disordered  fancies  and  extravagant 
conduct;  volatile;  giddy;  fickle;  slightly  delerious;  wander- 
ing in  mind. 


Flimsy— Flush.  145 

Flimsy,  adj.     Without  material,  strength,  or  solid  substance; 

of  loose  and  unsubstantial  structure. 
Flinch,  v.     To  give  way  to  fear  or  to  a  sense  of  pain;  shrink 

back  from  anything  painful  or  dangerous;  shrink;  wince. 

Flinders,  n.  pi.  Splinters;  small  pieces  or  fragments:  usually 
in  the  plural. 

Float,  v.  Flood;  to  cover  with  water.  "All  afloat,'"  filled 
with  water. 

Flock-bed,  n.     A  bed  made  of  flocks  or  locks  of  wool. 

Flood-gate,  n.  A  gate  placed  in  the  dam  of  a  mill-pond  to  let 
off  the  water  when  too  great  a  head  is  caused  by  rain. 

Floor,  v.  Beat;  conquer;  put  to  silence  by  some  decisive 
argument,  retort;  overcome  in  any  way;  overthrow:  as, 
' '  To  floor  an  assailant. ' ' 

Flop,  v.  To  plump  down  suddenly;  or  come  down  with  a.  flop: 
as,  "  He  flopped  down. ' ' 

Flosh,z'.      To  spill;  shake  over.      "  Don't  flosli  the  water  on 

the  floor." 
Flounce,  n.     Frounce.     A  sudden  fling  or  turn  of  the  body. 

"  She  frounced  out  of  the  room."     (2)    Frounce  of  a  skirt. 

Flower,  n.     Meal  made  by  grinding  corn,  wheat,  etc.     Flour. 

Flue,  n.  A  duct  for  the  conveyance  of  air,  smoke,  heat,  or 
gas.     The  flue  of  the  chimney.      (2)     Fur  of  an  animal. 

Flummux,  v.     To  perplex;  embarrass;  bewilder;  defeat. 

Flurry,  n.     A  sudden  snowstorm,  is  a.  flurry  of  snow. 

Flurry,  n.  A  confusion.  "Everything  was  in  a  flurry.'''' 
"He  was  much  flurried. ' ' 

Flush,  v.     To  rouse  and  cause  to  start  up  or  fly  off:  as,  to  flush 

a  covey. 
Flush,  adj.       Well  supplied,  as  with   money:    as,  to  be   quite 

flush. 

Flush,  adj.      Having  the  surface  or  face  even  or  level  with  the 

adjacent  surface,  or  in  the  same  plane  or  line. 
10 


146  Fluster— Folks. 

Fluster,  v.  To  confuse;  embarrass,  as  by  surprise;  cause  to 
flush  and  move  or  speak  hurriedly  and  confusedly;  flurry. 

Flusteration,  ;/.  The  state  of  being  flustered;  confusion; 
flurry. 

Flux,  n.     Bloodyy^.r,  dysentery. 

Fly,  v.     Fly  around,  to  stir  about;  to  be  active. 

Flyblow,  v.  To  deposit  eggs  on  meat  or  the  like,  as  a  fly. 
Flyblown. 

Fly-boat,  //.      A  light,  swift  sail-boat. 

Flyflap,  ;/.  A  flap  for  driving  off  flies.  Something  to  drive 
off  flies. 

Flying-seal,;/.  An  unsealed  letter.  "These  letters  were 
with  a  flying-seal,  that  I  might,  if  I  thought  proper,  close 
them  with  a  wafer." 

Fly-specked,  adj.  Specked  or  soiled  with  fly  dung.  "His 
goods  have  been  in  the  shop  so  long  that  they  are  all  fly- 
specked.  ' ' 

Fly-time,  n.  Summer.  The  time  when  animals  are  most 
annoyed  by  flies. 

Fly-up-the-creek,  n.  The  small  green  heron.  A  giddy, 
capricious  person. 

Fob,  v.     To  put  into  a  fob;  to  pocket;  get  possession  of. 

Fodder,  :'.  To  feed  cattle.  "  It's  about  night  and  time  for 
you  to  fodder  the  cattle." 

Fog-grass,  ;/.  Long  grass  that  remains  on  the  land  during  the 
winter. 

Fogy,  n.  An  old  fashioned  or  very  conservative  person;  one 
who  is  averse  to  change  or  novelty. 

Foil,  ;/.     The  back  of  a  looking-glass. 

Folk,  n.      People  in  general;  persons  regarded  individually. 

Folks,  )i.  pi.  One's  family  or  relatives.  "  How  are  all  your 
folk's^      "  How  .ire  the  folks  at  home." 


Follow— Forelock.  147 

Follow,  v.     To  practice  a  trade,  profession,  or  art.      "  He  now 
follows  the  water. ' ' 

Folly,  n.  "  Any  ridiculous  building,  not  answering  its  intended 
purpose."     Several  place-names. 

Fond,  adj.  Disposed  to  prize  highly,  or  to  like  very  much; 
feeling  affection  or  pleasure:  as,  to  be  fond  of  children. 

Fondle,  v.  To  treat  with  tender  caresses;  bestow  tokens  of 
love  on;  caress. 

Fool,  v.      To  fool  with,  to  play,  tamper,  or  meddle  with  foolishly. 
To  fool  away,  to  spend  to  no  advantage,  or  on  objects  of 
little  or  no  value.     To  fool  azvay  time  or  opportunity. 

Fooling,  n.     Jesting;  banter;  levity;  nonsense. 

Foot,  v.  To  pay;  liquidate:  as,  to  foot  the  bill.  To  add  a 
column  of  figures  and  set  the  sum  at  the  foot:  as,  7^0/ up 
the  account. 

Foot,  v.  To  "foot socks  "  is  to  knit  a  new  foot  to  an  old  sock- 
leg. 

Footback,  n.     On  foot. 

Footing,  n.  Mutual  standing;  reciprocal  relation:  as,  a  friendly 
footing.     (2)  To  pay  one's  footing,  to  pay  money  usually 

spent  for  drink. 
Foot-lock,  n.     Tuft  of  hair  growing  beneath  the  pastern-joint 

of  horses. 

For,  prep.      "  I'm  not  as  old  as  you  think  for." 

Force,  n.  The  hands  to  work  in  the  field,  or  to  do  any  piece 
of  work.  A  body  of  persons  prepared  for  joint  action  of 
any  kind.      "  He  has  a  force  of  fifty  hands  weeding  corn." 

Force,  v.  Compel  to  give  way  or  yield;  oblige.  "I  did  not 
wish  to  but  was  forced  to  do  it." 

Forehanded,  adj.  Well  circumstanced  as  regards  property 
and  financial  condition  generally:  as,  a  forehanded  farmer. 

Forelock,  n.  The  lock  of  hair  that  grows  from  the  forepart  of 
the  head ;  the  lock  above  the  forehead  of  a  horse. 


148  Foreshore — Fox-trot. 

Foreshore,  ;/.  The  sloping  part  of  a  shore,  uncovered  at  low 
water;  the  beach. 

For  good,  adv.  Finally;  entirely.  "I  think  he's  gone  for 
good. "      "  For  good  and  all. " 

Forhead  cloths,  n.  pi.  Forehead  cloth.  A  bandage  formerly 
worn  by  ladies  to  prevent  wrinkles. 

Fork,  ;/.  One  of  the  parts  into  which  anything  is  divided  by 
bifurcation;  a  forking  branch  or  division:  as,  the  forks  of  a 
road  or  stream.      "  The  north  fork  of  the  river." 

Forky,  adj.     Forked. 

Form,  ;/,     A  bench  seat. 

Forrud,  adv.     Forward. 

Fortnit,  n.     ^fortnight 

Fotch,  v.     Old  past  tense  of  fetch. 

Fo'teen,  adj.     For  foicrtcen.      "  About  fd1  teen  yards  long. " 

Foul,  adj.  Causing  trouble  or  annoyance;  obnoxious:  as,  foul 
weather. 

Foul-mouthed,  adj.  Using  scurrillous,  obscene,  or  profane 
language. 

Fourpenshapeni,  n.  Fourpence — halfpenny.  A  small  Spanish 
silver  coin  worth  4^d.  English  money,  and  6}(  cents  U.  S. 
money. 

Foursquare,  adj.      Having  four  sides  and  four  angles. 

Foutham,  n.  Fathom,  the  length  of  the  outstretched  arms, 
about  six  feet. 

Fower,  ?i.     Four.     Fourty,  forty. 

Fox,  v.     To  intoxicate;  fuddle.     Foxy,  p.  a.     Drunk. 

Foxfire,  n.  Phosphorescent  light  given  off  by  decayed  wood. 
(2)  The  decayed  wood  that  gives  out  a  dull  light  on  a  dark 
night. 

Fox-trot,  n.  A  pace,  as  of  a  horse,  consisting  of  a  series  of 
short  steps. 


Foxy— Fresh.  149 

Foxy,  adj.  Tricky;  given  to  cunning  or  subtle  artifice.  (2)  Red 
coloured  like  a  fox.      "  He  has  a  foxy  hair  and  beard." 

Fractious,  adj.  Apt  to  quarrel;  cross;  snappish;  peevish; 
fretfull:  as,  a  fractious  child.  "That  child  must  be  sick  he 
is  very  fractious  today. ' ' 

Frail,  n.  Flail.  An  implement  for  beating  out  grain,  peas,  and 
beans. 

Frail,  v.     To  beat.      "  He  frailed  him  well." 

Frailing,  n.     A  beating. 

Frame,  n.     Skeleton.      "She  is  nothing  but  a  frame." 

Frame-building,  n.     A  building  made  entirely  of  wood. 

Fransy ,  n.  Violent  agitation  of  mind  approaching  to  temporary 
derangement  of  the  mental  faculties;  distraction;  madness. 

Fray,  n.     A  broil;  a  riot. 

Fray,  v.  To  fret  or  chafe  as  a  cord  or  piece  of  cloth  by  rub- 
bing. 

Frazlings,  n.  pi.     Threads  of  cloth  torn  or  unravelled. 

Frazzle,  n.     A  substance  worn  to  threads  or  small  splinters. 

Frazzle,  v.     To  fray;  wear  out  to  threads,  or  small  splinters. 

Freality,  n.     Liberality.      "  Give  to  us  with  a  f reality." 

Freckly,  adj.     Marked  or  covered  with  freckles. 

Free,  adj.     Unrestrained  by  decency;  bold;  indecent. 

Freehanded,  adj.     Free  to  give;  openhanded. 

Freemartin,  n.  A  cow-calf  twin-born  with  a  bull-calf,  and 
supposed  that  she  will  be  always  barren. 

Freeze,  ;/.  Frost  or  its  results;  chilling  or  freezing  conditions: 
as,  there  was  a  heavy  freeze  last  night. 

Fren,  n.     Friend.      Frenship. 

Frenchmen,  ;/.  pi.  Tall,  spindling  tobacco  plants  of  a  useless 
quality. 

Fresh,  n.  A  flood;  a  stream  in  overflow;  an  inundation.  (2) 
A  brook  of  fresh  water;  a  small  tributary  stream;  a  current 


150  Fresh — Friendship. 

of   fresh   water  running  into   tide-water.      (3)    Meat   of   a 
freshly  killed  hog;  spareribs,  chines,  sausage. 

Fresh,  adj.  Cool;  refreshing:  as,  a  draught  of  fresh  water. 
Cold;  raw;  applied  to  weather.  "Afresh  morning."  (2) 
Not  salt,  salted  or  pickled. 

Freshen,  v.     To  revive;  to  increase:  the  wind  freshens. 

Freshes,  n.  pi.  A  small  branch,  usually  of  fresh-water,  run- 
ning into  a  large  river;  the  large  river  is  tide- water  and  salt. 
A  stream  or  current  of  fresh  water  running  into  tide-water. 

Freshet,  n.  A  flood  or  overflowing  of  a  river  by  reason  of 
heavy  rains  or  melted  snow;  an  inundation  of  a  compara- 
tively moderate  extent. 

Fresh-fork,  n.  A  large,  three-prong  iron  fork,  with  a  handle 
two  feet  or  more  long,  for  taking  out  a  ham,  or  other  cooked 
meat  from  a  dinner-pot,  or  other  boiler  while  cooking. 
Flesh-fork. 

Fresh-water,  adj.  Accustomed  to  sail  on  fresh  water  only,  as 
on  lakes  and  rivers;  as,  a  fresh-water  sailor. 

Fret,  n.  A  state  of  chafing  or  irritation;  as  of  the  mind,  tem- 
per, etc. ;  vexation ;  anger. 

Fret,  v.  To  chafe  painfully  or  vexatiously;  irritate;  worry: 
gall.  (2)  To  worry;  annoy.  "  Don't  fret  the  child,  but 
let  him  alone." 

Fret,  v.  To  be  worried;  give  way  to  chafed  or  irritated  feel- 
ings. (2)  To  be  in  commotion  or  agitation,  as  water. 
"  The  sea  is  in  a  great  fret  to-day." 

Fretty,  adj.  Fretful.  "The  child  must  be  sick  he  is  very 
fretty  to-day." 

Friday  come  fortnight.  Meaning  that  something  would  take 
place  a  fortnight  from  the  next  coming  Friday. 

Friendly,  adv.  In  a  friendly  manner;  with  friendship.  "He 
treated  them  friendly." 

Friendship,  n.  An  act  of  kindness  or  friendliness;  friendly 
aid;  help;  relief:  as,  "You  have  done  me  frie?idships  often. " 


Fright- Fry.  151 

Fright,  ;/.     A  person  of  shocking,  grotesque,  or  ridiculous  ap- 
pearance in  either  person  or  dress.      "  She's  a  fright." 

Frighten,  v.     To   astonish;    to   agreeably   surprise.      "I   was 
frightened  when  he  told  me  how  much  it  was." 

Frill,  n.     A  piece  of  fat  on  a  hog's  entrails;  the  omentum. 
Frisky,  adj.     Gaily  active;  lively;  frolicsome. 
Fritter,  n.     A   small  cake  of  batter,  sometimes    containing   a 
slice  of  fruit. 

Frizzle,  v.  To  curl  or  crisp  in  cooking:  as,  the  meat  is  all 
frizzled up.     (2)  To  fry.     "  The  meat  frizzling  in  the  pan." 

Frizzly,  adj.     Loosely  crisp;  curly:  as,  frizzly-headed. 

Frock,  n.     The  principal  outer  garment  of  women. 

Frog,  n.  The  biceps  muscle  in  the  arm  when  made  to  move 
and  swell  by  contraction  is  called  "frog." 

Frog-spit,  n.  Froth-spit.  A  froth  seen  on  pine  bushes  in  the 
spring,  from  which  may-flies  are  said  to  be  hatched. 

Frog-stool,  n.     Toad  stool;  a  fungus. 

Frolic,  n.     A  scene  of  gaiety  and  mirth,  as  in  dancing  or  play; 

a  merrymaking. 
Frolicsome,  adj.     Full  of  gaiety  and  mirth;  given  to  pranks. 

Frost,  v.  To  sharpen  the  front  and  hind  parts  of  a  horse's 
shoes.  (2)  To  freeze:  as,  "  The  sweet  potatoes  were  frosted 
by  the  cold."      Frozen.     Frosted,  frostbitten. 

Frounce,  ;/.     A  fold,  pleat,  or  frill  of  a  garment.      Flounce. 

Frow,  ;/.  Also  f roe.  A  cleaving  tool  having  a  wedge-shape 
blade,  with  a  handle  at  right  angles  to  the  length  of  the 
blade,  used  for  splitting  staves,  riving  slabs,  and  the  like. 

Frowsy,  adj.     In  a  state  of  disorder;    offensive  to    the   eye; 

slovenly;  soiled;  dingy;  unkempt;  dirty:  said  especially  of 

the  head,  or  the  hair. 
Fry,  n.     Small  fry,  young  babies  or  children;  persons  or  things 

of  no  importance. 


152  Fuddle— Fuss. 

Fuddle,z'.      To  make  foolish  or  stupid  with  drink;  make  drunk. 

Full,  adj.      Filled  with  liquor;  drunk. 

Full,  v.      "  The  moon  fulls  next  Monday  night." 

Full-faced,  adj.      Having  a  plump  or  round  face. 

Full-swing,  adj.  He  is  going  at  full-swing;  very  fast;  at  full 
speed. 

Full-tilt,  adj.     With  much  impetuosity  or  violence.      "  He  ran 

full-tilt  against  the  gate." 
Fumble,  v.     To  feel  or  grope  about  blindly,  or  clumsily;  seek 

or  search  for  something  awkwardly.    To  manage  awkwardly. 

Fumbler,  n.     One  who  fumbles  or  gropes. 

Fume,  n.      Excitement;   an  irritable  or  angry  mood;   passion. 

Fume,  v.     To  be  angered  or  irritated;  be  in  a  passion. 

Fun,;/.  Mirthful  sport.  In  fun,  as,  a  joke.  To  be  great  fun, 
to  be  very  amusing  or  funny. 

Funeral,  ;/.  The  funeral  sermon.  "  His  fwieral was  preached 
last  Wednesday." 

Funeral,  ?i.  Meeting  a*  funeral,  the  carriage  draws  up  along- 
side the  road  until  the  funeral  passes,  then  falls  in  behind 
and  follows  some  distance,  then  goes  back  on  its  way. 

Funk,  n.     A  strong  and  offensive  smell:  as,  "  I  smell  afimk." 

Funky,  adj.     Having  a  bad  smell. 

Funning, /wr/.     Jesting;  joking;  the  playing  of  sportive  tricks. 

Funny-bone,  n.  The  place  at  the  elbow  where  the  ulnar  nerve 
passes  by  the  inner  condyle  of  the  humerus.  A  blow  on 
the  nerve  causes  a  tingling  sensation  on  the  ulnar  side  of  the 
hand.     Also  crazy-bone. 

Fur,  adr.  and  adj.     A  variant  of  far.     Per. 

Furmety,  n.     Wheat  boiled  in  milk  and  seasoned. 

Furrer,  >i.      Fur  of  animals. 

Fuss,  n.  An  anxious  display  of  petty  energy.  Bustling  about 
trifles. 


Fuss— Gaffs.  153 

Fuss,  v.     To  make  much  ado  about  trifles.     Fussing. 

Fussing,  part.      Bustling  about.     Quarrelling. 

Fussy,  adj.     Acting  with  fuss;  bustling;  quarrelsome. 

Fusty,  adj.      Mouldy;  musty;  ill-smelling. 

Fuzz,  n.     Loose  fibres,  as  on  the  surface  of  cloth,  or  separated 
from  it  by  friction. 

Fuzzy,  adj.     Covered  with  fuzz.      Like  fuzz. 

G 

Gab,  n.     Idle  talk;  chatter;  loquacity. 

Gabble,  ;/.      Loud  or  rapid  talk  without  sense  or  coherence. 

Gabble,  v.     To  talk  noisily  and  rapidly;  prate;  jabber. 

Gabbler,  n.       One   who  gabbles;  a  noisy,  silly,  or  incoherent 
talker. 

Gabbling,  n.      Incoherent  babble;  jabber. 

Gabby,  adj.     Talkative;  chattering;  loquacious.      "  He  is  very 
gabby. ' ' 

Gable-end,  ;/.     The  end  of  a  building  where  there  is  a  gable. 
The  end-wall  up  to  the  roof.      "  Gable-ends  of  brick." 

Gad,  v.     To    ramble   about   idly,  from    trivial    curiosity  or  for 
gossip. 

Gad,  n.     The  act  of  gadding  or  rambling  about:  as,  "she  is 
always  on  the  gad. ' ' 

Gadabout,  n.     One  who  gads  or  walks  idly  about,  especially 
from  motives  of  curiosity  or  gossip. 

Gadding,  n.     The   act  of  going  about  idly,  or  moving  from 
place  to  place  from  mere  curiosity. 

Gaff,  n.     A  sharp,  strong  iron  hook,  like  a  large  fish-hook  with- 
out a  barb,  used  for  landing  large  fish. 

Gaff,  v.     To  hook  with  a  gaff:  as,  to  gaff  a  fish. 

Gaffs,  n.  pi.     Gaves.     Steel  spurs  for  fighting-cocks. 


154  Gag — Gallows. 

Gag,  v.     To  retch;  heave  with  nausea. 

Gainsay,  v.  To  speak  against;  contradict;  oppose  in  words; 
deny,  or  declare  not  to  be  true;  dispute;  refuse.  ' '  As  if  she 
had  never  gainsaid  it." 

Gainsaying,  n.  Opposition,  especially  in  speech;  refuse  to 
accept  or  believe  something;  contradiction:  denial. 

Gait,  ;/.  Manner  of  walking  or  stepping;  carriage  of  the  body 
while  walking.      "  I  know  him  by  his  gait.'" 

Gait,  v.  To  train  a  horse  to  certain  manners  of  stepping;  and 
a  horse  so  trained  is  ' '  well  gaited. 

Gaiter,  n.  A  shoe  covering  the  ankle,  with  or  without  cloth, 
generally  with  an  insertion  of  elastic  on  each  side. 

Gal,  n.     A  girl. 

Gall,  ii.      Bitterness  of  feeling;  rancour;  hate;  malignity. 

Gall,  n.  A  sore  on  the  skin,  caused  by  fretting  or  rubbing;  an 
excoriation. 

Gall,  ;/.  A  spot  where  grass,  corn,  or  trees  have  failed,  where 
the  surface  has  been  washed  away,  or  been  so  exhausted 
that  nothing  will  grow  on  it. 

Gallant,  n.  A  man  who  is  particularly  attentive  to  women;  one 
who  habitually  escorts  or  attends  on  women;  a  ladies'  man. 

Gall-apple,  n.     The  gall  of  the  gall-oak;  an  oak-apple. 

Gall-bushes,  n.  pi.       Gaul.      A  sort   of    myrtle   growing    in 

marshy  places;  bog-myrtle. 
Galled,  /.   a.     Fretted    or    excoriated;    abraded:    as,   a  galled 

back. 
Gallinipper,  ;/.     A  large  mosquito. 
Gallivances,  n.  pi.     Spanish  gar6anzos=chick  peas. 
Gallivant,  v.     To  spend  time  in   pleasure-seeking,   especially 

with  the  opposite  sex. 
Gallows,  //.     A   pole  supported  on   forks  on  which   hogs  are 

hung  to  dry  after  killing  and  cleaning. 


Gallowses — Garden-house.  155 

Gallowses,  n.  pi.  Gallases.  Goluses.  A  pair  of  braces  for 
supporting  the  trowsers.  Also,  in  the  singular:  as,  "He 
belongs  to  the  one  gallus  crowd,"  speaking  of  an  "  ornary 
person." 

Gallows,  adj.  Reckless;  clashing;  showy:  as,  "What  a  gal- 
lozvs  walk  she's  got." 

Gaily,  adj.  Characterized  by  galls  or  naked  spots,  where  no 
grass  will  grow. 

Gambaters,  n.  pi.  Gambadoes;  a  spatterdash  for  covering  the 
legs  when  riding. 

Gamble,  n.  Gambrel.  A  stick  used  for  hanging  up  a  hog  to 
dress  and  dry. 

Game,  adj.     Crooked;  lame:  as,  a  game  leg. 

Game,  v.  To  make  game  of,  to  turn  into  ridicule;  make  sport 
of;  mock;  delude  or  humbug. 

Game-leg,  n.     A  lame  leg. 

Gammut,  n.  Children  when  engaged  in,  a  very  active  and 
noisy  game  of  play,  were  said  to  be  in  a  gammut  of  play. 
Merriment;  fun. 

Ganging,  n.  A  going;  walking.  "  What  are  you  doing  gang- 
ing about  in  that  way  ?  ' ' 

Gangway,  ;/.     A  thoroughfare;  passage;  outlet. 

Gap,  n.  A  break  or  opening,  as  in  a  fence,  or  wall.  Also  in 
ranges  of  mountains. 

Gap,  v.  To  notch:  to  gap  a  knife,  by  making  notches  in  the 
blade. 

Gar,  n.     A  fish.      Pronounced  with  hard  g,  and  broad  a,geaar. 

Garble,  v.     To  corrupt:  as,  a  garbled  account  of  an  affair. 

Gar-broth,  ;/.  A  gar  is  looked  on  as  a  particularly  poor  fish 
for  food,  and  broth  made  from  it  is  very  mean;  applied  to 
persons  is  worse  still.      "  He  is  as  mean  as  gar-broth." 

Garden-house,  ;/.  A  privy,  as  they  are  usually  built  in  a  gar- 
den of  a  country-house. 


156  Garden-stuff — Gayly. 

Garden-stuff,  n.      Plants  growing  in  the  garden;  vegetables  for 
the  table. 

Gardien,  n.     A  guardian;  pronounced  geardeen.     Guardeen. 

Garlicky,  adj.     Smelling  or  tasting  of  garlic.      In  the  spring, 
when  the  cows  run  out,  the  milk  has  a  "garlicky  taste." 

Gas,  v.     To  talk  nonesense  or  falsehood  to;  to  impose  upon  by 
wheedling,  frothy,  or  empty  speech. 

Gas-bag,  ;/.     A  boastful,  loquacious  person;  a  conceited  gab- 
bler. 

Gashly,  adj.     Ghastly;  horrible;  dreadful;  deadly. 

Gassy,  adj.     Given   to   "gas,"   or  "gassing;"   prone  to  con- 
ceited, boastful,  or  high-flown  talk:  as,  a  "gassy  fellow." 

Gate-post,  n.     One  of  the  side-posts  that  support  a  gate. 

Gather,  v.     To  suppurate. 

Gathering,  n.     A  suppuration;  an  abscess. 

Gatherings, ;/.  pi.     Gathers;  the  folds  of  a  woman's  dress  where 
it  is  sewn  to  the  body. 

Gathering-string,  ?i.     A  string  run  through  the  mouth  of  a 
bag  by  which  it  may  be  drawn  together  and  closed. 

Gaudy,  adj.     Showy  without  taste;   vulgarly  gay  or  splendid; 
flashy. 

Gaunt,  adj.     Slender;  slim;  lean. 

Gawd,  n.     For  God. 

Gawk,  )i.      A  stupid,  awkward  fellow;    a  fool;    a  simpleton;    a 
booby. 

Gawkiness,  n.     The  quality  of  being  a  gawk. 

Gawky,  adj.      Awkward  in  manner  or  bearing;  inapt  in  beha- 
viour; clumsy;  clownish. 

Gay,  adj.      Bright  or  lively,  especially  in  colour;  showy:  as,  a 
gay  dress. 

Gayly,  adj.     Spirited:  as,  a  gayly  horse.      Galy. 


Gaze — Gelding.  157 

Gaze,  v.     To  look  at  intently  or  with  fixed  attention. 

Gazing-stock,  n.  A  person  or  thing  gazed  at  with  wonder  or 
curiosity,  especially  of  a  scornful  kind. 

Gear,  n.  Any  special  set  of  things  forming  essential  parts  or 
appurtenances,  or  utilized  for  or  connected  with  some  special 
act:  as,  plough-/?^/-. 

Gear,  v.     To  furnish  with  gear. 

Gearden,  n.  With  hard  g;  O.  E.  geard.  A  plot  of  ground 
for  cultivating  vegetables,  etc. 

Gearing,  n.     Machinery. 

Gearl,  n.     Gerle.     Girl.     Always  pronounced  with  the  hard  g. 

Gearp,  //.  When  a  person  yawns  often  he  is  said  to  have  the 
gearps. 

Gearpe,  v.     Pronounced  very  broad;  to  yawn.    Gearp.     Gyarp. 

Gearp,  v.  To  stretch  open.  A  girl  said  to  one  who  was  fast- 
ening her  dress:   "  Pin  it  so  it  won't  gearp." 

Gearps,  n.  pi.  A  disease  of  chickens  which  keeps  them  gearp- 
ing  all  the  time. 

Gearpy,  adj.  [Gyaapee.]  Inclined  to  gearp.  "  I  think  I  am 
going  to  have  a  chill,  I  feel  very  gearpy. " 

Geart,  n.  The  band  used  for  holding  on  a  saddle.  Girt.  Es- 
pecially the  band  passed  under  the  belly  of  a  horse,  and 
drawn  tight,  to  hold  a  saddle;  sa.dd\e-geart. 

Gearth,  n.     Band  used  for  holding  on  a  saddle.     Girth. 

Gee,  v.  To  agree;  suit;  fit.  "That  won't  gee."  To  get  on 
well  with  a  person.      "  They  gee  very  well." 

Gee,  v.  To  move  to  one  side;  to  turn  to  the  off-side  or  from 
the  driver. 

Geemeny,  ;/.     A  mild  oath. 

Geld,  v.     To  castrate  an  animal. 

Gelding,  n.     A  castrated  horse. 


158  General  Assembly — Giblets. 

General  Assembly,  n.  In  1651  the  governing  body  was  spoken 
of  as,  "The  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour,  Councill 
and  Burgesses." 

Generality,  n.  The  main  body;  the  bulk;  the  greatest  part; 
the  majority  of  the  people;  the  multitude. 

Generation,  n.     Family;  race;  kind. 

Genteel,  adj.     Fashionable;  stylish. 

Genteelly,  adv.  In  a  genteel  manner;  in  the  manner  of  well- 
bred  people. 

Gentle,  v.  To  tame;  to  make  gentle:  as,  to  gentle  a  horse  by 
careful  handling  and  driving.  ' '  Your  colts  have  not  been 
gentled  any." 

German  silver,  n.  A  white  alloy  used  as  a  cheap  substitute 
for  silver. 

Get,  v.  When  children  prepare  their  lessons  and  get  them 
ready  for  recitation  are  said  to  get  their  lessons. 

Get,  v.  Used  as  an  auxiliary:  as,  to  get  shaved ;  to  get  married. 
(2)  To  grow;  to  become.  "  She  has  gotten  all  right  again 
since  she  had  the  grip. 

Gether,  v.     To  gather. 

Gethers,  n.  pi.     The  pleats  of  a  woman's  dress. 

Gethering,    n.       Gathering.       An    inflamed   and    suppurating 

swelling.      (2)  A  collection  of  people.      "  They  had  a  good 

gethering  at  the  meeting  last  night." 
Get  out,  v.     To  prepare,  cut  out  and  get  timber  ready.      "To 

get  out  spokes  for  a  wheel. "      "To  get  out  timber  for  a  ship. 

Get-up,  n.     Equipment;  dress;  appearance;  style. 

Get  wind,  v.     To  learn  as  by  accident.      "  He  got  wind  of  it." 

Gib,  v.     To  gut.       "Gzbbed  herrings,"  herrings  that  have  had 

their  guts  removed. 
Giblets,  n.  />/.     The  heart,  liver,  gizzard,  neck,  ends  of  wings, 

and  feet  of  a  fowl,  often  used  in  pies,  stews,  etc.      (2)  Rags; 

tatters.     Torn  to  giblets. 


Giddy— Gimblet.  159 

Giddy,  adj.  Affected  with  vertigo,  or  a  swimming  sensation  in 
the  head,  causing  liability  to  reel  and  fall. 

Giddy-head,?/.  A  giddy  frivolous  person;  one  without  serious 
thought  or  sound  judgement. 

Giddy-headed,  adj.  Having  a  giddy  head;  frivolous;  volatile; 
incautious. 

Gift  of  gab,  n.     Gift  of  idle  talk;  chatter.      "  He  has  the  gift 

of  gab- ' ' 
Gift-horse,  n.     A  horse  that  is  given  as  a  present.     To  look  a 

gift-horse  in  the  mouth,  to  criticize  or  examine  critically  a 

present  or  favour  received. 

Gifts,  n.  pi.  White  specks  on  finger-nails,  which  have  been 
superstitiously  supposed  to  foreshadow  gifts.  Sometimes 
called,  also,  "  a  sweetheart." 

Gig,  n.  A  light  carriage  with  a  pair  of  high  wheels  and  drawn 
by  one  horse. 

Gig,  n.     A  fishing  spear. 

Gigging,  n.     The  act  of  taking  fish  with  the  gig. 

Giggle,  v.     To  laugh  in  a  silly  or  affected  manner;  titter. 

Giggling,  n.     Silly  or  affected  laughter;  tittering. 

Gig-lamps,  n.  pi.     Spectacles. 

Gig- saddle,  ;/.     A  small  saddle  used  with  a  gig  harness. 

Gill,  n.     A  quarter  of  a  pint. 

Gilling,  n.     The  process  of  catching  fish  with  a  gill  net. 

Gill-net,  n.  A  net  which  catches  fish  by  the  gills,  having  put 
their  heads  through  the  meshes. 

Gills,  ;/.  pi.  The  fringe  on  an  oyster's  mouth.  "Oysters 
have  green  gills  this  year." 

Gimber-jawed,  adj.  Having  the  lower  jaw  apparently  out  of 
joint,  projecting  beyond  the  upper,  and  moving  with  unus- 
ual freedom.     Jimber-jawed. 

Gimblet,  n.     A  gimlet. 


160  Gimblet-eyed— Givey. 

Gimblet-eyed,  adj.  Keen-eyed;  given  to  watching  or  peering 
into  small  matters. 

Gin, prep.  Against  a  certain  time;  by:  as,  "I'll  be  there  gin 
rive  o'clock."      Hard  g. 

Gin,  v.      Past  tense  of  give,  gave;  with  hard  g.       '  I  gin  him 

one." 
Ging,  n.     Company;  people.      Gang. 

Ginger-bread,  adj.  Weak;  slight  in  make;  wanting  in  stabil- 
ity; bad  in  material.     Applied  to  any  kind  of  construction. 

Ginger-bread,  n.  A  kind  of  sweet  cake  flavoured  with  ginger. 
Often  made  in  fanciful  shape:  as,  of  horses;  horse-cake. 

Gingerly,  adv.  Softly;  cautiously;  mincingly;  daintily;  used 
with  reference  to  walking  or  manner  of  handling. 

Ginning,  n.      Beginning. 

Gipsy,  n.  Applied  to  a  young  woman,  playful  freedom  or  in- 
nocent roguishness  of  action  or  manner. 

Girl,  ;/.  Pronounced  gear/e,  with  hard  g;  a  female  child;  any 
young  person  of  the  female  sex;  a  young,  unmarried  woman; 
a  maid  servant. 

Giste,  ;/.     A  joist.     Jiste. 

Given,/),  a.      In  the  habit  of;  disposed;  addicted:  as,  given  to 

drink. 
Given-name,  n.      Name  given   at  baptism;    Christian  name. 

Name  given  to  young  children  who  are  not  baptized. 

Give  out,  v.  To  become  exhausted  or  weary;  to  fail.  "He 
can't  walk  far  his  legs  give  out."  "  He  thought  at  first  he 
would  go,  but  at  last  he  gave  it  on/."  (2)  To  be  finished: 
as,  ' '  the  bread  gave  out. ' '  (3)  To  lack  strength  or  staying 
power;  fail  from  weakness.  "The  horse  gave  out  and 
couldn't  go."  I  1  )  To  give  out  the  lines  of  a  hymn  to  be 
sung. 

Givey,  adj.  Damp,  moist;  "givey  7eeat/ier,"  said  of  damp 
weather. 


Gizzard — Glint.  161 

Gizzard,  n.  To  stick  in  one's  gizzard  to  prove  hard  of  diges- 
tion; be  distasteful  or  offensive;  vex  one. 

Gizzard-shad,  n.     A  name  for  alewives. 

Glair,  n.     The  white  of  an  egg. 

Glance,  n.     A  sudden  look;   a    rapid  or    momentary  view   or 

directing  of  the  eye. 
Glare,  n.     A  strong,  bright,  dazzling  light. 

Glaring,/,  a.  Emitting  a  brilliant,  dazzling  light;  shining  with 
dazzling  lustre. 

Glary,  adj.     Of  a  brilliant,  dazzling  lustre. 

Glass  candle  shade,  n.  A  glass  cylinder  two  feet  or  more  tall 
to  protect  a  lighted  candle  from  draughts  of  air. 

Glasses,  n.  pi.     Spectacles. 

Gleam,  v.  To  collect  in  fragmentary  parcels;  pick  up  here  and 
there.     Glean. 

Gleaner,  n.  A  rake  drawn  by  a  horse  that  followed  wheat- 
cutters. 

Glebe,  ;/.     Turf;  soil;  ground;  farming-land. 

Glee,  ;/.  Exultant  or  playful  exhilaration;  demonstrative  joy 
or  delight;  merriment;  mirth;  gaiety.      In  great  glee. 

Glib,  adj.     Plausibly  voluble:  as,  a  glib  tongue. 

Glibly,  adv.  In  a  glib  manner;  smoothly;  volubly:  as,  to  slide 
Glibly;  to  talk  glibly. 

Glim,  ;/.     Glimpse;  glance. 

Glimmering,  ;/.  A  dim  or  vague  view  or  notion;  an  inkling; 
a  glimpse. 

Glimpse,  n.  A  transient  or  hurried  view;  a  glance  as  in  pass- 
ing; hence,  a  momentary  or  chance  experience  of  anything; 
a  faint  perception.  ' '  I  only  got  a  glimpse  at  him  as  he 
passed." 

Glint,  n.     A  gleam;  a  shimmer  of  light  as  through  a  chink. 

Glimpse. 

11 


162  Glisten— Gobble. 

Glisten,  n.      Glitter;  sparkle;  gleam. 

Gloomy,  adj.  Affected  with,  characterized  by,  or  expressing 
gloom;  wearing  the  aspect  of  sorrow;  depressed  or  depress- 
ing; doleful. 

Glory,  n.  To  lie  in  one's  glory.  To  be  in  full  gratification  of 
one's  pride;  vanity;  taste;   hobby. 

Glow,  >/.  Shining  heat,  or  white  heat.  Brightness  of  colour; 
vivid  redness:  as,  the  glow  of  health  in  the  cheeks. 

Gluey,  adj.   Like  glue;  sticky. 

Glum,  adj.     Gloomily  sullen  or  silent;  moody;  frowning. 

Glut,  n.     A  thick  wooden  wedge  used  for  splitting  timber. 

Glut,  ;/.  More  than  is  desired;  so  much  as  to  cause  displeasure, 
or  satiety;  a  supply  above  the  demand  in  the  market. 

Gnabble,  v.     To  nibble. 

Go,  v.  Spoken  of  some  callings.  A  waterman  is  spoken  of  as 
one  "  who  goes  by  water." 

Go,  ;■.  Go  by:  to  leave  the  public  road  and  take  road  by  the 
owner's  house.  To  call;  to  stop  at.  "  Will  you  go  by  and 
get  dinner  with  me." 

Go,  :■.     To  go  like,  is  to  imitate  the  voice  of.      "  He  goes  like  a 

partridge." 
Go  after,  v.     To  court.      "  Does  he  still  go  after  Hannah  ?  " 

Go-ahead,  adj.  Energetic;  pushing;  active;  driving.  'He 
is  a  go-ahead  man." 

Go-at,  v.  To  work  at;  be  employed  on.  "  What  am  I  to  go 
at  now,  I've  finished  the  fence." 

Gob,  ;/.      A  mouthfull:  hence  a  little  mass  or  collection;  a  dab; 

a  lump:  a  gob  of  spittle. 
Gobble,  v.      To  swallow  in   large:  pieces;   swallow  hastily;   often 

with  up  or  down. 
Gobble,  v.     To  make  the  loud  noise  in  the  throat  peculiar  to 

the  turkey-cock,  or  gobbler. 


Gobbler— Gollop.  163 

Gobbler,  n.     A  turkey-cock;  turkey-gobbler. 

Go-between,  n.  One  who  passes  from  one  to  another  of  dif- 
ferent persons  or  parties,  as  an  agent  or  assistant  in  nego- 
tiation or  intrigue;  one  who  serves  another  or  others  as  an 
intermediary. 

Goblet,  n.     A  glass  with  a  foot  and  stem,  as  distinguished  from 

a  tumbler. 
Go-by,  ;/.     A  passing  without  notice;  an  intentional  disregard, 

evasion,  or  avoidance,  in  the  phrase,  to  give,  or  get  the  go  by. 

Go-cart,  n.  A  small  framework  with  casters  or  rollers,  and 
without  a  bottom,  in  which  children  are  taught  to  walk  with- 
out danger  of  falling.      (2)  A  hand-cart. 

Goddy-mighty,  n.     God  almighty. 

Godforsaken,  adj.  Neglected  in  appearance;  remote  in  situa- 
tion: as,  "  A  godforsaken-looking  place. " 

God  save  the  Commonwealth,/^.  When  the  sheriff  opens 
court  he  says:  "  Oyes,  oyes,  silence  is  commanded,  under 
pain  of  imprisonment  while  the  worshipfull  justice  of  W. 
County  holds  his  court.     God  save  the  Commonwealth." 

God-send,  n.  Something  regarded  as  sent  by  God;  an  un- 
looked-for acquisition  or  piece  of  good  fortune. 

Goer-by,  n.     One  who  goes  or  passes  by;  a  passer  by. 

Goggles,  n.  pi.  An  instrument  worn  like  spectacles,  to  protect 
the  eyes  from  dust  or  light.     Spectacles. 

Goggle-eyed,  adj.  Having  prominent,  squinting,  or  rolling 
eves. 

Go  in,  v.  The  time  of  the  beginning  of  something.  "  School 
goes  in  at  9  o'clock."      "  Church  goes  in  at  11."  ■ 

Goings-on,  ?/. />/.  Behaviour;  actions;  conduct;  used  like  car- 
ryings-on, mostly  in  a  depreciative  sense. 

Gollop,  n.     A  large  morsel. 

Gollop,  v. '  To  swallow  greedily.  "You  golloped  that  down 
as  if  you  liked  it." 


164  Gone — Goose. 

Gone,  p.  a.  Lapsed;  lost;  hopeless;  beyond  recovery:  "a 
gone  cz.se."  "A  gone  coon."  (2)  Characterized  by  a  sink- 
ing sensation,  as  if  about  to  faint;  weak  and  faint:  as,  a  gone 
feeling. 

Goneness,;/.  A  fainting  or  sinking  sensation;  faintness:  as,  a 
feeling  of  goneness. 

Goner,??.  Lost;  past  recovery;  utterly  demolished.  "A 
goner. ' ' 

Gone  out,  v.  When  a  fire  has  stopped  burning  it  is  said  to  have 
gone  out.  ' '  The  fire  went  out  in  the  night  and  the  room  got 
very  cold. 

Good,  adj.  Considerable;  more  than  a  little;  rather  large,  great; 
long,  or  the  like:  as,  a  good  way  off;  a  good  deal. 

Good-and-all,  adv.  Entirely;  forever.  "He  went  for  good- 
and-all. 

Good-few,  adj.  An  indefinite,  but  comparatively  large,  num- 
ber.     "  There  were  a  good-few  people  at  church." 

Good-for-nothing,  n.     An  idle  worthless  person. 

Good-for-nothing,  adj.  Of  no  value  or  use;  worthless;  idle; 
shiftless. 

Goodies,  n.  pi.  A  sweetmeat;  most  frequently  used  in  the 
plural.     Children's  sweetmeats. 

Good-mind,  n.  A  half  resolved  will.  "I've  a  good-mind  to 
go  to  the  country  to-morrow." 

Goods,  n.     Property. 

Good-time,  n.     A  festival. 

Good-way,  n.  A  long  distance.  "  He  went  a  good-ways  with 
me,  and  carried  my  things  for  me." 

Goods  and  chattels,  n.  pi.     Household  furniture  and  utensils. 

Go  on,  v.  To  scold;  to  complain.  "I  wonder  how  you  can 
go  on  so. " 

Goose,  n.     A  silly,  foolish  person;  a  simpleton. 


Gore — Go-to-meeting.  165 

Gore,  ;/.  Clotted  blood;  blood  running  in  plenty.  "  He  is  all 
a  gore  of  blood. ' ' 

Gore,  n.  A  triangular  piece  or  strip  of  material  inserted  to 
make  something,  as  a  garment  or  sail,  wider  in  one  part 
than  another. 

Gore,  v.     To  wound  with  the  horns,  as  a  bull. 

Gorge,  u.  The  act  of  gorging;  inordinate  eating;  a  heavy- 
meal:  as,  to  indulge  in  a  gorge  after  long  abstinence.  '  He 
has  got  his  gorge. " 

Gorge,  n.  A  disgust  from  too  much  of  anything.  "  I've  got 
a. gorge  and  don't  want  any  more  now." 

Gorge,  v.     To  glut;  fill  the  throat  or  stomach  of;  satiate. 

Gorm,  u.     A  mess;  all  sticky.     In  a  gorm.      Gaum.     * 

Gorm,  v.  To  smear,  as  with  anything  sticky.  When  a  child 
has  smeared  its  face  with  something  soft  and  sticky,  they 
say:   "  Look  how  you  have  gormed  your  face." 

Gormy,  adj.     Smeary;  sticky.      Gaumy. 

Gormandize,  v.     To  eat  greedily;  devour  food  voraciously. 

Gormandizer,  ;/.  A  voracious  eater;  a  glutton.  "He  is  a 
great  gormandizer. ' ' 

Goslins,  n.  pi.  When  a  boy's  voice  is  changed,  he  is  said  to 
have  the  goslins,  or  be  in  the  goslins. 

Goss,  ;/.  A  unnamed  punishment.  "  If  you  do,  he'll  give  you 
goss. ' ' 

Gossip,  n.  One  who  goes  about  tattling  and  telling  news;  an 
idle  tattler. 

Gossip,  n.  Idle  talk,  as  of  one  friend  or  acquaintance  to 
another;  personal  remarks  about  people;  tattle;  scandal; 
trifling  or  groundless  report. 

Gossip,  v.  To  talk  idly,  especially  about  other  people;  chat; 
tattle. 

Go-to-meeting,  adj.  Proper  to  be  worn  to  church;  hence, 
best;  applied  to  clothes:  as,  her  go-to-meeting  clothes. 


166  Gotten— Grainery. 

Gotten, pastpart.     Ofverbtoget.     Obtained;  procured;  gained; 

won ;  acquired  by  any  means. 
Gouge,  n.     An  imposition;  cheat;  also,  an  imposter. 
Gouge,  v.     To  cheat  in  a  bold  or  brutal  manner;  overreach  in 

a  bargain. 
Gound,  n.     Form  of  gown. 
Gourd,  n.     A  dried  and  cleaned  gourd-shell  prepared  for  use 

as  a  bottle,  or  dipper,  or  other  purposes. 
Gourd-boxes,  n. pi.     Boxes  made  of  dry  gourds,  and  put  up 

on  walls  of  houses  or  on  posts  for  martins  and  other  small 

birds  to  build  their  nests  in. 
Gouts,  n.  pi.      Lumps  of  clotted  blood.      ''Gouts  of  blood." 
Gourd-guts,  n.  pi.     The  soft  inside  part  of  a  gourd  holding  the 

seeds. 
Gouty,  adj.      A    thread   full   of  knots,    tangles,   and    kinks,   is 

gouty. 
Gown,  n.     A  long,   loose  garment  worn   in   the  house:  as,  a 

night-gown. 
Grab,  v.      Snatch;   hence,  to  get  possession  of  rudely,  roughly, 

forcibly,  or  illegally. 
Grab,  n.     A  sudden  seizure  or  grasp;  a  catch. 
Grab,  //.      Something  that  is  grabbed  or  obtained  by  grabbing. 

Grabble,  v.  To  dig  out  of  the  ground  with  the  hands.  '  To 
g  rabble  potatoes. 

Grain,  n.  Seed  of  one  of  the  cereal  plants.  The  gathered 
seeds  of  cereal  plants  in  mass;  the  plants  themselves  stand- 
ing or  gathered.      Cram-market. 

Grain,  ;/.  Fibrous  structure  or  constitution,  especially  of  wood; 
the  substance  of  wood  modified  by  the  quality,  arrangement, 
or  direction  of  its  fibres. 

Grainery,;/.  A  granary.  A  large  house  for  storing  wheat 
after  it  is  thrashed,  oats,  and  corn  in  the  ears. 


Grain-cradle — Gravy.  167 

Grain-cradle,  n.     A  cradle  for  cutting  grain. 

Granny,  n.      An  old  woman;  a  midwife. 

Grape-vine,  n.     The  vine  on  which  grapes  grow;  to  distinguish 
it  from  many  other  vines;  as,  "  punkin  vine,"    '  hop  vine  ; ' 
"  watermellon  vine." 

Grapline,  n.  A  boat's  anchor  having  from  three  to  six  flukes 
placed  at  equal  distances  about  the  end  of  a  shank. 

Grapple,  n.     A  siezing  or  gripping. 

Grasping,/),  a.     Covetous;  avaricious;  exacting. 

Grass,?/.  The  grazing  season;  the  spring.  "A  horse  five 
years  old  last  grass. ' ' 

Grass-beef,  n.  Meat  of  a  grass-fed  animal,  distinguished  from 
"rfa//-fed." 

Grass-fed,  adj.  Said  of  an  animal  fattened  on  growing  grass, 
and  not  on  grain  and  fodder. 

Grass-hook,  n.  A  hook  for  bracing  the  scythe-blade  to  the 
snead;  near  the  butt  of  the  blade. 

Grass-widow,  n.  A  woman  temporarily  separated  from  her 
husband,  as  while  he  is  travelling  or  living  at  a  distance  or 
account  of  business.  (2)  An  unmarried  woman  who  has 
had  a  child. 

Grass- widower, ;/.  A  man  who,  for  an}-  reason,  is  living  apart 
from  his  wife. 

Gratify,  v.  To  requite  or  reward  voluntarily:  to  give  a  gratuity 
to. 

Grave,  v.  To  clean  a  ship's  bottom  by  burning  or  scraping  off 
seaweeds,  barnacles,  etc.,  and  paying  it  over  with" pitch. 

Graveyard,  n.      Place  where  people  are  buried. 

Graving-dock,  n.     A  dock  where  ships'  bottoms  are  graved. 

Graving-piece,  n.  Apiece  of  wood  inserted  to  supply  the  de- 
fect of  another  piece,  mostly  used  in  ship- and  boat-building. 

Gravy,  ;/.     The  juice  of  cooked  meat. 


168  Gray-mare — Griddle. 

Gray-mare,  >i.  A  wife  who  rules  her  husband.  " The gray- 
mare's  the  better  horse.' 

Graze,  71.     A  slight  stroke  or  scratch  in  passing. 

Graze,  v.  To  touch  or  rub  lightly  in  passing;  brush  lightly  the 
surface:  as,  "  The  bullet  grazed  his  cheek." 

Great-big,  adj.     Very  large.      "  He  lives  in  a  great  big  house. " 

Greatcoat,  ;/.  Overcoat.  Any  coat  that  is  worn  over  all  other 
clothing. 

Great-house,  n.  A  house  of  the  better  class;  generally  the 
master's  distinguished  from  the  negroes'  houses. 

Great-uncle,  /i.     The  brother  of  a  grandfather  or  grandmother. 

Greedy-gut,;/.  A  greedy  person ;  a  glutton;  a  belly-god;  also, 
a  covetous  person. 

Green,  adj.  Applied  to  wood  not  dried  or  seasoned.  (2)  Un- 
ripe fruit.      Green  apples. 

Green,  adj.  Immature  with  respect  to  age  or  judgment;  raw; 
unskilled;  easily  imposed  on. 

Green,  n.  A  piece  of  grass-land  in  a  village  or  town  reserved 
by  the  community  for  ornamental  purposes.  "  Courthouse 
Green."      "College  Green." 

Greens,  ;/.  pi.  The  leaves  and  stems  of  young  plants  used  in 
cookery  or  dressed  for  food,  especially  plants  of  the  cabbage 
kind,  spinage,  etc.     Sallets. 

Greenbriar,  n.  A  greenish-yellow  climbing  plant  with  prickly 
stem  and  thick  leaves. 

Green-gill,  ?i.     A  greenness  of  the  gills  of  an  oyster.     A  green 

gilled  oyster. 

Greenhorn,  n.  A  raw,  inexperienced  person;  one  unacquainted 
with  the  world  or  with  local  customs. 

Greeny,  n.     A  greenhorn;  a  simpleton. 

Gret,  ;/.      ¥  ox  great.      6'/Y'/-house. 

Griddle,  ;/.      Gridiron. 


Grimy — Groggery.  169 

Grimy,  adj.     Full  of  grime;  foul;  dirty. 

Grinder,  n.  One  of  the  double  teeth  used  to  grind  the  food; 
hence,  a  tooth  in  general. 

Grindlestone,  n.     Grindstone. 

Grine,  n.  Groin;  the  part  of  the  body  at  the  bend  of  the  thigh. 
"  He  had  kearnels  in  his  grine." 

Gripe,  v.  To  produce  pain  as  by  constriction  or  contraction; 
as,  to  gripe  the  bowels.     To  suffer  griping  pains. 

Gripes,  n.  pi.  An  intermittent,  spasmodic  pain  in  the  intes- 
tines, as  in  colic;  cramp-colic;  cramps. 

Gripey,  adj.  Causing  griping  pain.  "You  had  better  not 
eat  those  green  apples,  they  are  very  gripey." 

Grissle,  n.     Gristle;  cartilage. 

Grist,  n.  That  which  is  ground;  corn  to  be  ground;  grain  car- 
ried to  the  mill  to  be  ground  separately  for  the  owner.  The 
quantity  ground  at  one  time,  the  grain  carried  to  the  mill 
for  grinding  at  one  time.      Applied  to  small  quantities. 

Gristle,  n.     The  popular  name  for  cartilage. 

Grist-mill,  n.  A  mill  for  grinding  grain  by  the  grist,  or  for 
customers,  usually  moved  by  water.  "  Water  grist-mill." 
A  mill  for  grinding  small  quantities. 

Grit,  n.     Sand  or  gravel;  rough,  hard  particles  collectively. 

Grit,  n.  Firmness  of  mind;  courage:  spirit;  pluck;  determi- 
nation; resolution. 

Gritty,  adj.  Containing  sand  or  grit;  consisting  of  grit.  (2) 
Courageous;   plucky. 

Grizzly,  adj.     Somewhat  gray;  grayish.      "Grizzlj'-beard." 

Grocery,  n.     A  grocer's  shop. 

Grog-blossom,  ;/.  A  redness  or  an  irruption  of  inflamed  pim- 
ples on  the  nose  or  face  of  a  man  who  drinks  ardent  spirits 
to  excess. 

Groggery,  n.  A  tavern  or  drinking-place,  especially  one  of 
low  and  disreputable  character. 


170  Groggy— Grub. 

Groggy,  adj.  Overcome  with  grog,  so  as  to  stagger  or  stum- 
ble: tipsy. 

Grog- watch,  n.  A  watch  fast  and  always  ahead  of  time  so 
that  the  hour  for  taking  a  drink  will  come  quicker. 

Grog-shop,  n.  A  place  where  grog  or  other  spiritous  liquor 
is  sold. 

Groom,  n.  A  man  newly  married,  or  about  to  be  married;  a 
bridegroom. 

Groomsman,  n.  One  who  acts  as  attendant  on  a  bridegroom 
at  his  marriage. 

Gross,  adj.     Over  fat,  applied  to  meat. 

Ground,  >i.  A  held.  "It  is  hard  work  walking  over  the 
ploughed  ground. "      Grounds,;/./"/.      Enclosed  fields. 

Ground-puppy,  n.  A  small  animal  said  to  live  under  the 
ground,  and  bark  when  disturbed. 

Grounds,  n.  pi.  Sediment  at  the  bottom  of  liquors:  as,  coffee- 
grounds. 

Ground-pea,  //.      Peanut. 

Groundsell,  //.      A  plant.      Used  as  a  domestic  remedy. 

Groundsill,  //.  The  timber  of  a  building  that  lies  next  to  the 
ground;  the  sill.      Gmnsill. 

Grouty,  adj.     Sulky;  surly;  cross. 

Growing-weather,  //.  Weather  with  the  proper  warmth  and 
moisture  to  make  crops  grow;  alternate  rain  and  sunshine. 

Growl,  v.      To  find  fault;  grumble. 

Grown  children,  //.  pi.  Sons  and  daughters  living  in  the 
house  with  the  parents,  almost  grown,  but  unmarried. 
"  Several  other  grown  children." 

Growth,  -v.  Increase  in  size.  "They are  small  but  they  have 
not  got  their  growth." 

Grub,;/.     Something  to  eat;  victuals. 

Grub,  :■.     To  dig  up  by  tin-  roots;  to  char  land  of  roots. 


Grubbing-hoe — Guffins.  17i 

Grubbing-hoe,  n.     A  tool  for  digging  up  shrubs,  weeds,  roots, 

etc. 
Grub-time,  n.     Time  to  eat;  meal  time. 

Grudge,  n.  Ill-will  excited  by  some  special  cause,  as  a  personal 
injury  or  insult;  secret  enmity;  spite. 

Gruel,  n.  A  fluid  or  semi-liquid  food,  usually  for  infants  or 
sick  people,  made  by  boiling  meal  or  any  farinaceous  sub- 
stance in  water. 

Gruff,  adj.  Rough  or  stern  in  manner,  voice,  or  countenance; 
surly;  harsh. 

Gruffness,  n.     The  state  or  quality  of  being  gruff. 

Grum,  adj.     Morose;  surly;  sullen;  glum. 

Grumble,  v.  To  complain  in  a  low,  surly  voice;  murmur  with 
discontent.  (2)  A  slight,  but  constant  toothache  is  called 
"  a  grumbling  toothache." 

Grumble,  v.  To  make  a  noise  by  the  movement  of  wind  in 
the  belly.      "A grumbling  in  the  belly." 

Grumbler,  n.  One  who  grumbles  or  murmurs;  one  who  com- 
plains or  expresses  discontent. 

Grumpy,  adj.      Surly;  gruff;  grum. 

Grunt,  v.  To  complain.  "  There  needn't  be  any  grunting  as 
it  must  be  done." 

Grutch,  v.  To  give  or  permit  with  reluctance;  grant  or  submit 
to  unwillingly;  begrudge. 

Guard,  //.  Geaa'rd.  Always  pronounced  with  the  g  hard, 
geard. 

Gudgeons,  n.  pi.  Gudgins.  The  iron  pins  at  the  ends  of  the 
axles  of  a  wheelbarrow  on  which  the  wheel  revolves.  (2) 
Small  fish;   minnums;  minnows.      Gudgins. 

Guesswork,  //.  Random  or  haphazard  action.  '  It  is  all 
guesswork. 

Guffins,;/./)/.  Very  large  feet.  "Look  what  guffins  he's 
got." 


172  Guggle— Gust. 

Guggle,  n.     A  gurgling  sound. 

Guggle,  v.  To  make  a  gurgling  noise;  gurgle.  To  gargle,  as 
the  throat.     Guggling. 

Guinea-keet,  >i.     A  guinea  fowl. 

Guinea-wheate,  >i.      Indian  corn. 

Gull,  n.     A  simpleton;  a  fool;  a  dupe;  one  easily  cheated. 

Gull,  v.  To  deceive;  cheat;  mislead  by  deception;  trick;  de- 
fraud. 

Gullet,;/.      The  throat.      (2)   Deep;  narrow  water  channel. 

Gulluck,  n.     Gullet;  the  throat.     Gullock. 

Gully,  ;/.  A  channel  or  hollow  worn  in  the  earth  by  a  current 
of'  water;  a  narrow  ravine. 

Gum,  n.  A  section  of  a  hollow  log  or  tree,  usually  a  gum  tree, 
used  to  form  a  well-kearb,  or  to  make  a  beehive;  or  a  trap 
for  catching  rabbits;   "  old-hare  gum." 

Guma,  n.     Seminal  fluid. 

Gump,  n.     A  foolish  person;  a  dolt. 

Gumption,  //.  Acuteness  of  practical  understanding;  clear, 
nractical  common  sense;  quick  perception  of  the  right  thing 
to  do  under  unusual  circumstances. 

Gumptious,  adj.  Having  quick  perception  and  sound  judge- 
ment.    Supercillious;  conceitedly  proud. 

Gun,  v.  To  hunt  game  with  a  gun;  to  shoot  with  a  gun;  prac- 
tice shooting,  especially  the  smaller  kinds  of  game. 

Gunning,  >i.     The  art  or  practice  of  shooting  with  guns. 

Gun-shy,  adj.      Afraid  of  a  gun;  frightened  by  the  report  of  a 

gun  :   said  of  a  field-dog. 
Gunstick,  n.      A   ramrod;  generally  a  long  and  big  one,  used 

for  cleaning  a  gun. 

Gust,  ;/.  A  sudden  squall  or  blast  of  wind.  A  long  and  heavy 
gale.      "The  March  gust" 


Gusty— Hag.  173 

Gusty,  adj.  Marked  by  gusts  or  squalls  of  wind;  fitfully  windy 
or  stormy. 

Gut,  ;/.     A  small  waterway  through  a  marsh. 

Gut,  v.     To  take  out  the  entrails.     To  plunder  of  contents. 

Guts,  u.  pi.     The  intestines  in  general. 

Guttler,  n,     A  greedy  or  gluttonous  eater;  a  gormandizer. 
Guy,  ;/.       A  grotesque  person  in  dress,  looks,  or  manners;  a 
dowdy;  a  "fright." 

Guzzle,  v.     To  swallow  liquor  greedily;  swill;  drink  much. 

Guzzler,  n.     One  who  guzzles;  an  immoderate  drinker. 

Gwine,  part.      Going.      "  I  gwine  right  away. " 

H 

The  initial  //  is  always  sounded,  except,  probably,  in  the  words 
umole,  Umphrey,  and  a  few  others.  Is  always  heard  in  when, 
zvhat,  where,  and  such  words. 

Haayot,  n.      Proper  name  Harriet. 

Hab,  v.     A  variant  of  have. 

Hack,  n.  A  person  is  said  to  be  "under  hack"  when  he  is 
controlled  and  ordered  by  another.  ' '  She  has  her  husband 
tender  hack. 

Hack,  v.  Newly  split  rails  are  hacked  up  to  dry.  Piled  by 
crossing  the  ends,  the  other  end  lying  far  apart.  (2)  To 
pile  up  newly  made  bricks  to  dry. 

Hack,  v.  To  make  irregular  cuts  in  or  upon;  cut  or  notch  at 
random.     To  cut  or  chip  in  an  awkward  manner. 

Hack,  v.  To  cough  faintly  and  frequently.  "  He  has  a  hack- 
ing cough." 

Hackle,  ;/.     A  comb  for  dressing  flax. 

Haft,  n.  Handle  of  a  knife,  a  cutting  or  thrusting  instrument; 
sword  or  dagger. 

Hag,  n.     A  repulsive,  vicious,  or  malicious  old  woman;  a  witch. 


174  Haggle— Half-baked. 

Haggle,  v.  Cut  or  chop  in  an  unskillful]  manner;  mangle  in 
cutting. 

Haggle,  v.  To  bargain  in  a  petty  and  tedious  manner;  higgle; 
stick  at  small  matters. 

Haggly,  adj.  Hacked  unevenly.  "Look  how  haggly  that 
edge  is,  why  did'nt  you  cut  straight  ?  " 

Hag-ridden,  adj.  Ridden  by  hags  or  witches,  as  a  horse. 
Tangled  mane  and  tail  is  evidence  of  it.  Afflicted  with 
nightmare.  A  hag-ridden  person  was  described  as,  "A 
drinker  of  poke-root  and  whiskey." 

Hail,  v.  To  call  at,  as  a  person,  place,  house,  ship,  etc. ,  at  a  dis- 
tance; to  cry  out  in  order  to  attract  attention.  To  hail  from, 
to  the  question:  "Where  do  you  hail  from?"  Where  do 
you  come  from. 

Hail-fellow,  n.  An  intimate  companion;  a  pleasant  or  genial 
companion.      "  He's  Jiail-fellow  well  met  with  everybody." 

Hail-salt,  ;/.  Coarse  salt,  with  grains  the  size  of  small  hail- 
stones. 

Hail-shot,  n.  Small  shot  for  cannon ;  grape-shot.  ' ' Hail-shott, 
pistol  and  goose  shott." 

Hair,  ;/.      To  a  hair,  to  a  nicety. 

Hairbreadth,  ?i.     To  the  breadth  of  a  hair;  extremely  narrow. 

Hairbrain,  n.     A  giddy  or  reckless  person. 

Hairbrain,  adj.     Giddy;  heedless;  reckless;  wild. 

Hair-trunk,  n.  Trunks  were  made  of  pine  planks  and  covered 
with  raw  cow-hide,  finished  with  brass-head  nails;  the  ini- 
tials of  the  owner  were  made  with  the  brass  nails. 

Hale,  v.     To  vex;  trouble;  worry;   " pull  arid  haul. " 

Hale,  adj.  Sound;  entire;  healthy;  robust;  not  impaired  in 
health. 

Half-baked,  adj.  Raw:  inexperienced;  silly;  immature;  ill- 
digested. 


Halfhead  bedstead — Hand-barrow.  175 

Half  head  bedstead,  n.  A  bedstead  with  posts  lower  than  the 
headboard,  not  as  high  as  a  teaster. 

Half  in  two,  adj.  Almost  in  two  pieces.  "  That  rope  is  half- 
in-twoS ' 

Half-leg,  adj.  "  Half-leg  deep."  Water  reaching  halfway 
up  the  leg. 

Hall,  n.  An  entrance-way  or  passage-way  in  a  house  leading 
to  or  communicating  with  its  different  parts. 

Hall's  dog,  n.  "  As  lazy  as  Hall's  dog  that  leant  against  the 
fence  to  bark." 

Halt,  v.  To  limp;  move  with  a  limping  gait.  (2)  To  stand  in 
doubt;  delay;  hesitate;  linger. 

Ham,  «.  The  thigh  of  animal  slaughtered  for  food;  the  thigh 
of  a  hog  salted  and  cured  or  dried  in  the  smoke. 

Hambroline,  ;/.  A  sort  of  small  line  used  for  seizings.  Made 
of  flax. 

Hambrow,  n.     Coarse  sheets  made  of  flax.      Hamburg.   ? 

Hames,  n.  Pieces  of  wood  on  the  collar  of  the  horse  on  which 
the  traces  are  fixed. 

Hamper,  ;/.  A  basket  with  handles  on  the  edge,  made  of 
white-oak  splits,  holding  about  a  bushel  and  used  for  hand- 
ling corn  in  the  ear.      Homper. 

Hamper,  v.  To  hinder;  impede.  "She  can  do  very  little  as 
she  is  hampered  with  so  many  children."      Homper. 

Hand,  n.  One  who  is  engaged  in  some  manual  employment: 
as,  a  field-hand.  An  adept  or  proficient  in  anything;  one 
who  is  fond  of  anything.  Help;  assistance;  a  lift.  "  I  al- 
ways lend  them  a  hand  when  they  are  pushed." 

Hand,  v.  To  give  or  transmit  by  means  of  the  hand:  as,  "She 
hands  the  bread." 

Hand-barrow,  n.  A  wooden  frame  for  carrying  a  load  between 
two  persons. 


176  Handbasket— Handwriting. 

Handbasket,  n.  A  small  basket  that  with  its  contents  can  be 
handled  with  one  hand. 

Handfull,  n.  As  much  as  one  can  hold  or  manage;  full  em- 
ployment. A  troublesome  child  is  spoken  of  as  a  handfull. 
A  person  difficult  to  manage. 

Hand-gallop,  n.     A  slow,  easy  gallop. 

Hand-holt,  n.  Anything  that  may  be  grasped  or  taken  hold 
of.  When  one  has  a  firm  grasp  on  a  thing  he  is  said  to  have 
a  good  hand-holt. 

Handle,  v.  To  touch  or  feel  with  the  hands,  use  the  hand  or 
hands  upon.  (2)  To  use;  to  employ;  not  necessarily  with 
the  hands:  as,  a  dancer  is  said  to  "Handle  her  feet  very 
well." 

Hand-line,  n.     A  fishing  line  worked  by  hand  without  a  rod. 

Handlocke,  ;/.      Handcuff. 

Hand-loom,  n.      A  weaver's  loom  worked  by  hand. 

Hand-reel,  n.      For  making  skeins  of  cotton  or  wool  from  the 

newly  spun  broaches. 
Hand-running,  adv.      In  immediate  succession;  without  break; 

consecutively:  as,  "  He  went  five  days  hand-running." 
Hands,  n.  pi.      Men,  women,  and  children  who  work  on  a  farm. 
Hands  off.     An  order  and  warning  from  one  person  to  another 

not  to  lav  hands  on  him.      "Bands  off. !  now  I  won't  have 

any  more  ol  this.  " 
Handspeak,  n.     A  wooden  lever;  a  handspike;  used  for  mov- 
ing heavy  things. 
Hand's-turn,  n.      A    helping    hand;    assistance.       Adv.       At 

every  hand' stum:  often;  frequently.     "  He  has  to  be  waited 

on  at  every  hand's  turn." 
Hand-to-mouth,  adj.      Precarious;    unsettied;    depending  on 

present  nerds. 
Handwriting,  //.     The  castor  form  peculiar  to  each  person. 

Handwrite. 


Handy— Hant.  177 

Handy,  adj.  Apt;  useful;  cleverhanded.  Near;  close  to;  ready 
at  hand. 

Hang,  v.     To  hang  a  door  or  gate,  is  to  set  it  on  its  hinges. 

Hang,  v.  To  get  fast;  catch.  "He  hung  his  toe  in  a  crack 
of  the  floor  and  fell."  "Tom  hung  a.  big  fish  but  he  got 
away." 

Hang,  n.  The  precise  manner  of  doing  or  using  something;  to 
lose  the  hang  of  it. 

Hang-by,  n.     A  dependant;  a  hanger-on. 

Hang-dog  look,  n.     A  vile  expression. 

Hanger-on,  n.  One  who  hangs  on  a  person,  company,  etc.; 
one  who  clings  to  the  society  of  another  longer  than  he  is 
wanted. 

Hangman's  choice,  n.     The  choice  between  two  evils. 

Hangnail,  n.  A  small,  separate  piece  of  hard,  partly  detached 
skin  at  the  root  or  side  of  a  nail. 

Hang-net,  n.     A  net  with  a  large  mesh. 

Hang  out,  v.  To  hang  in  sight,  as  a  sign;  to  hang  out  one's 
shingle,  is  to  hang  a  sign  in  sight:  as  a  doctor,  or  lawyer. 

Hang  up  his  hat,  v.  When  a  man  marries  and  goes  to  his 
wife's  house  to  live  he  is  said  to  hang  up  his  hat. 

Hank,  n.  A  coil  of  yarn  or  thread,  bound  up  in  one  or  more 
skeins. 

Hank,  v.     To  form  into  hanks. 

Hanker,  v.  To  linger  with  expectation;  hang  about:  as,  an 
animal  hankering  about  a  gate  with  the  expectation  of  get- 
ting in. 

Hankercher,  n.     A  handkerchief 

Hankering,  n.  An  uneasy,  craving  or  longing  to  possess  or 
enjoy  something. 

Hant,  n.      Haunt.     A  ghost. 

12 


178  Hant— Harness. 

Hant,  v.  Haunt.  To  be  much  about;  go  or  visit  often;  resort. 
"  He  hants  that  house." 

Happen,  v.  To  chance;  be  by  chance  or  unexpectedly:  as,  he 
happened  to  be  at  home;  she  happened  in.  Happen-along •, 
to  come  by  chance. 

Harbour,  v.  To  frequent.  "They  harbour  about  there." 
(2)  To  shelter;  to  conceal. 

Hard,  adj.     Becoming  sour;  said  of  cider. 

Hard-case,  n.      A  worthless,  dissipated  fellow. 

Hard-cider,  n.     Cider  that  has  become  sour  through  age. 

Hard-favoured,  adj.  Having  coarse  features;  harsh  counte- 
nance; ugly. 

Hard-featured,  adj.     Having  coarse  features. 

Hard-fisted,  adj.     Close-fisted;  covetous. 

Hard-got,  adj.     Obtained  with  difficulty. 

Hard-headed,  adj.  Obstinate;  hard  to  move  or  change  the 
opinion. 

Hard-hearted,  adj.     Unfeeling;  cruel;   pitiless;  inhuman. 

Hardly,  adv.  Not  quite  or  completely;  scarcely:  as,  hardly 
strong  enough.  Barely;  narrowly;  almost  not  at  all:  as, 
hardly  any.  Not  probably;  with  little  likelihood:  as,  he 
will  hardly  come  today. 

Hard  of  hearing,  adj.     Rather  deaf. 

Hard-knot,  //.     An  overhand  knot  tied  so  that  it  will  not  slip. 

Hard-pushed,  adj.      Hard  set;  hard  put  to  it 

Hard-run,  adv.  Hard  pressed;  ill-provided;  needy;  without 
resources. 

Hard-wood,  n.  Oak,  hickory,  ash,  etc.,  distinguished  from 
resinous  woods,  as  pine,  cedar. 

Hardy,  adj.  Strong;  enduring;  capable  of  resisting  fatigue, 
hardship,  or  exposure. 

Harness,  n.     Clothing,  dress:  garments. 


Harness — Haul.  179 

Harness,  n.  The  apparatus  in  a  loom  by  which  the  sets  of 
vvarp-threads  are  shifted  alternately  for  the  shed. 

Harp,  v.  To  speak  often  of  something,  especially  so  as  to  be 
tiresome  or  vexing;  speak  with  reiteration.  "  He  is  always 
harpin  on  that  string." 

Harry,  v.     To  trouble;  vex;  harrass;  agitate;  tease.      Harrow. 

Harslet,  n.     The  heart,  liver,  and  lights  of  hogs,  sheep,  beeves. 

Harum-scarum,  n.     A  giddy,  hairbrained,  or  rash  person. 

Harum-scarum,  adj.     Hairbrained;  flighty;  giddy;  rash. 

Harvest,  n.  The  season  of  gathering  the  ripened  crops;  the 
time  of  reaping  and  gathering  grain.  (2)  A  crop  or  crops 
gathered  or  ready  to  be  gathered. 

Harvest,  v.  To  reap  and  gather  grain-crops.  "I  will  begin 
to  harvest  my  wheat  next  week." 

Harvesters,  n. pi.     Workers  in  the  harvest. 

Harvest-field,  n.     A  field  from  which  a  harvest  is  gathered. 

Has-been,  n.  A  person,  thing,  or  belief,  that  belongs  exclu- 
sively to  the  past;  something  out  of  date,  or  past  use. 

Hash,  n.  To  settle  one's  hash.  To  finish  or  make  an  end  of 
opposition. 

Hash,  adj.     A  variant  of  harsh.     Very  hash  treatment. 

Hasp,  n.  A  clasp;  especially,  a  clasp  that  passes  over  a  staple 
and  is  fastened  by  a  pin  or  a  padlock;  also,  a  metal  hook 
for  fastening  a  door. 

Hatch,  n.  The  number  of  eggs  hatched  at  one  time.  Some- 
times hatching.     A  hatching  of  eggs  is  thirteen. 

Hatchet-faced,  adj.  A  thin  face,  lean  and  furrowed  by  deep 
lines. 

Hate,  v.     To  dislike.      "  I  hate  to  go  out  on  a  dusty,  hot  day." 

Haul,  n.  The  quantity  of  fish  taken  at  one  haul  of  the  seine; 
a  catch.     Any  valuable  acquisition;  a  "find." 


180  Haul— Headache. 

Haul,  v.  To  pull  or  draw  with  force.  To  convey  on  a  cart  or 
waggon. 

Haul,  v.  To  "  haul  in  your  horns  "  is  to  leave  off  pretentions; 
be  more  modest. 

Havance,  ;;.  Goodmanners.  Behaviour.  "  Have havance " — 
behave  yourself.  (2)  When  boys  keep  the  marbles  they 
win  at  play,  it  is  playing  for  havance,  or  keeps. 

Have  liefer,  or  liever.  To  hold,  regard,  or  consider  as  prefer- 
able; prefer.  "  I  had  liefer,"  I  would  hold  or  regard  it  as 
preferable.      "  Had  as  lieve. " 

Havoc,  n.     Waste.      "  What  havoc  you  make  of  evervthing. " 

Havvers,  n.     Claiming  half  of  what  another  finds. 

Havins,  n.  Havings.  A  game  of  marbles  where  each  puts  so 
many  marbles  in  a  ring  and  each  boy  keeps  all  he  knocks 
out. 

Haw,  interj.  Word  used  by  a  driver  to  his  oxen  to  make  them 
turn  to  the  left.     The  opposite  of  gee. 

Haw,  v.  To  speak  with  hesitation  and  the  interruption  of 
drawling  and  unmeaning  sounds:  as,  "  To  hum  and  haw." 

Hawk,  n.     The  board  on  which  a  plasterer  holds  his  mortar. 

Hawk,  v.  To  cough  voluntarily  for  the  expectoration  of  phlegm ; 
hawk  and  spit. 

Haze,  n.     Fine  particles  in  the  air  that  produce  opaqueness. 

Hazel,  n.  A  colour;  light  brown  like  a  hazel-nut.  "Hazel 
eyes." 

Hazy,  adj.  Opaque  with  haze:  as,  a  hazy  morning.  Lacking 
distinctness;  obscure,  vague;  confused. 

He,  n.  A  male  animal;  a  bird,  beast,  or  fish  of  the  male  sex: 
as,  a  "  he-goat." 

Head,  n.  An  individual  animal  or  person.  "Ten  head  of 
cattle. ' ' 

Headache,  n.  Always  used  with  the  article,  the  headache.  "  I 
have  the  headache  almost  every  day." 


Head-brough — Hearsay.  181 

Head-brough,  n.     An  officer  subordinate  to  a  constable. 

Headland,  n.  The  part  of  the  field  close  to  the  fence,  ploughed 
parallel  to  the  fence,  and  at  right-angles  to  the  other  furrows; 
where  the  plough-teams  turn;  headrow. 

Head  off,  v.  To  stop  the  progress  of  by  getting  in  front:  as, 
to  head  off  a  running  horse.  To  prevent  by  some  counter- 
action: as,  to  head  off  a  scheme. 

Head-posts,  n.  pi.      Posts  at  the  head  of  a  bedstead. 

Headright,  n.  At  the  first  settlement  of  Virginia  every  person 
who  brought  over  a  settler  was  entitled  to  fifty  acres  of  land; 
these  persons  were  called  ' '  headrights. ' '  A  man  himself, 
with  his  wife  and  each  child  counted  and  he  got  a  patent  for 
so  much  land. 

Head-row,  n.  A  number  of  furrows  ploughed  at  the  end  of  a 
field  where  the  horses  turn  in  the  furrow,  and  is  the  last 
sowed  or  planted. 

Headstall,  n.  A  stout  sort  of  bridle  for  fastening  a  horse's 
head  to  the  manger. 

Headstrong,  adj.  Willfull ;  ungovernable ;  bent  on  having  one' s 
own  way. 

Head-up,  v.     To  stand  anything  on  its  head:  as,  a  barrel. 

Head-work,  n.  Mental  or  intellectual  labour;  thought;  con- 
sideration. 

Heap,  n.  A  great  number  of  things;  a  large  quantity;  much. 
' '  Whole  heap. "      "  Heap  of  people. ' ' 

Hear,  v.      To  hear  tell  of;  to  hear  some  or  any  one  talked  about ; 

listen  to  what  is  said  about. 
Hearing,    n.       "Hard  of  hearing''   hearing   with    difficulty, 

partly  deaf. 

Hearn,  v.     For  heard. 

Hearsay,  n.  Information  communicated  by  another;  report; 
common  talk;  rumor;  gossip.  "I  don't  know  for  certain, 
it's  only  hearsay." 


y 


182  Heart — Heavyhanded. 

Heart,  n.  Condition;  said  of  ground.  "My  land  is  now  in 
very  good  heart. 

Heartache,  n.     Sorrow;  anguish  of  mind. 

Heartbreak,  n.     Overwhelming  sorrow  of  grief. 

Heartburning,  n.  Discontent;  especially,  envy  or  jealousy; 
enmity. 

Hear  tell,  v.     To  hear  about  something.    "  So  I've  heardtell" 

Hearth,;;.  Haarth.  That  part  of  the  floor  of  a  room  on  which 
the  fire  is  made.  The  fireside;  the  home;  the  domestic 
circle. 

Heartless,  adj.  Destituteof  feeling  or  affection;  cruel.  Hope- 
less: as,  a  heartless  task. 

Hear  to,  v.  To  permit;  to  receive  favourably;  to  give  consent; 
mostly  used  in  the  negative:  as,  "  He  would  not  hear  to  it." 

Heartsick,  adj.     S'.ck  at  heart;  deeply  afflicted  or  depressed. 

Heartstrings,  ;/.  Strongest  affections;  most  intense  feeling  of 
any  kind. 

Hearty,  adj.  Full  of  health;  showing  strength;  sound;  strong; 
healthy.  Adapted  for,  affording,  using,  or  requiring  strong 
or  abundant  nourishment:  as  a  hearty  dinner. 

Hear  your  ears,  v.  Meaning  that  one  cannot  hear  on  account 
of  great  noise.  "  The  children  make  such  a  noise  that  you 
can't  hear  your  ears  for  'em." 

Heat,  ;;.  An  itching  eruption  on  the  skin,  generally  in  hot 
weather.      "John  begins  to  break  out  with  the  heat." 

Heat,  adj.  The  hottest  part:  as,  "He  came  in  the  very  heat 
of  the  day." 

Heave,  v.     To  make  an  effort  to  vomit;  retch. 

Heavy,  adj.  To  show  that  a  person  has  a  full  suit  of  hair. 
"  She  has  a  heavy  head  of  hair." 

Heavyhanded,  adj.  A  cook  that  uses  much  salt  in  cooking  is 
said  {<>  be  heavyhanded. 


Heavy-pork — Hem.  183 

Heavy-pork,  n.  A  name  given  to  hogs  of  large  size  killed  for 
salting. 

Hector,  v.     To  treat  with  insolence;  threaten;  bully. 

He'd.     A  contraction  of  he  had,  and  of  he  zvonld. 

Heels,  n.  pi.      To  take  to  one  s  heels,  to  flee;  to  take  flight. 

Heel-tap,  n.     The  heel-piece  of  a  shoe. 

Heft,  n.  The  weight  of  a  thing,  as  ascertained  by  lifting  it. 
Weight;  heaviness.  The  greater  or  weightier  part  of  any- 
thing; the  bulk;  the  gist.  "  Give  me  the  fish  let  me  try  the 
heft  of  it." 

Heft,  v.     To  try  the  weight  of. 

Hefty,  adj.  Having  considerable  weight;  rather  heavy;  hence, 
weighty;  forcible:  as,  a  hefty  argument. 

Heir,  v.     To  inherit.      "  He  heired  that  land  from  his  mother." 

Heirlooms,  n.  pi.  Goods  left  in  a  house  by  way  of  inheritance; 
some  standing  pieces  of  household  stuff  that  go  with  the 
house.  fc 

Heish,  exclam.      Hush  !     The  hei  like  in  height. 

He'll,  v.     He  will. 

Hell-bent,  adj.  Recklessly  determined,  without  regard  to 
consequences;  determined  to  have  or  do  at  all  hazards; 
"deadset." 

Hellcat,  n.     A  devil-may-care  person.      "  Hell-cat  Billy  Jones." 

Hellion,  n.  An  overbearing,  quarrelsome,  and  vulgar  woman. 
"  She  is  a  regular  hellion." 

Helium,  n.     For  helm. 

Helt,  v.     Healt.      Held.      "  He  hea.lt  the  horse  by  the  bridle." 

Helter-skelter,  adj.     Confused;  disorderly;  carelessly  hurried. 

Helve,  n.     The  handle  of  an  axe,  adze,  or  hatchet. 

Helve,  v.     To  furnish  with  a  helve  or  handle. 

Hem,  pro?/.     Them.      'Em. 


184  Hender — Heydey. 

Hender,  v.     To  hold,  to  keep  back.     Hinder. 

Hendersome,  a^/'.  In  the  way;  obstructive.  "He  is  more 
hendersome  than  anything  else." 

Hen-hawk,  n.     A  hawk  that  preys  on  fowls. 

Hen-house,  n.  Hen-us.  A  house  or  shelter  for  fowls;  with 
rows  of  compartments  for  hens  to  lay  in, and  with"  pearches," 
for  them  to  roost  on. 

Hen-huzzy,  n.     A  woman  who  looks  after  fowls. 

Henscratches,  n.pl.  A  bad  handwriting.  "  His  writing  looks 
like  henscratches. 

Herb,  n.     Pronounced  erb. 

Hen-us,  ;/.     A  house  fitted  up  for  hens,  with  nests  to  lay  in, 

"  pearches  "  for  them  to  roost  on. 
Herb-doctor,  n.      Erb  doctor.     One  who  cures  by  means  of 

herbs. 

Herd,  n.  In  a  disparaging  sense,  a  company  of  men  or  people; 
a  rabble;  a  mob:  as,  the  "vulgar  herd.'" 

Hereabouts,  adv.     About  this  place;  in  this  neighbourhood. 

Hereafter,  n.  A  future  state;  the  future.  "  He  does  not  be- 
lieve there  is  any  hereafter." 

Hereaway,  adv.  Hereabouts;  in  this  neighbourhood,  or  in 
this  direction. 

Hereby,  adv.      By  this;  or  by  means  of  this. 

Hern,  pron.     Hers. 

Herricane,  ;/.     A  hurricane. 

Herrin-gutted,  adj.     Thin;  poor;  lean. 

Het,  v.  Past  tense  of  heat.  Heated.  "He  was  very  much 
lift  by  the  hot  sun." 

Hewn,  past  part.     Of  hew. 

Heydey,  ;/.  Highest  vigour;  full  strength.  "He  is  in  the 
heydey  of  life." 


Hi— High-minded.  185 

Hi,  interj.    ■  High.      "Hi!  what  are  you  doin  there?" 

Hickory-nut,  //.  The  nut  of  the  hickory  tree.  From  the  In- 
dian word  Pohickory. 

Hickory-shad,  n.     Same  as  gizzard-shad. 

Hickory-shirt,  u.  A  coarse  and  lasting  shirt  worn  by  labour- 
ers, made  of  heavy,  twilled  cotton,  with  a  narrow,  blue 
stripe  or  check. 

Hide,  n.     The  human  skin.      "  I'll  tan  your  hide  for  you." 

Hide,  v.     To  beat  or  flog. 

Hidebound,  adj.  Obstinately  set  in  opinion  or  purpose;  nar- 
row-minded; bigotted;  unyielding. 

Hiding,,;/.      A  flogging  or  thrashing. 

Higgledy-piggledy,  adv.  In  confusion;  in  a  disorderly  man- 
ner; topsy-turvy. 

Higgling,  n.     Close  bargaining;  chaffer. 

High,  adj.      Excited  with  drink. 

High,  adj.  A  high  time,  a  time  of  great  effort;  difficulty;  jol- 
lity; an  exciting  time. 

High  and  low,  >i.     People  of  all  conditions. 

Highfalutin,  //.      Pompous  speech  or  writing.      Bombast. 

High-handed,  adj.  Carried  on  with  a  high  hand;  violent; 
overbearing;   arbitrary. 

High-keys,  n.  A  person  is  said  to  be  on  his  high-keys  when 
he  is  loud  in  voice,  and  boisterous  in  action.  "  There's  no 
telling  what  he'll  do  when  he  gets  on  his  high-keys.'" 

Highlone,  adv.  Alone,  without  help.  "  Mares  scarce  able  to 
stand  highlone  much  less  assist  in  the  business  of  the  Planta- 
tions." 

High-minded,  adj.  Of  or  pertaining  to  an  elevated  mind; 
having. or  resulting  from  high  principle;  honourable;  mag- 
nanimous. 


186  High-spirited— Hint. 

High-spirited,  adj.  Having  a  high  spirit;  bold;  mettlesome; 
sensitive. 

High-strung,  adj.  Strung  to  a  high  pitch;  high  spirited;  hav- 
ing a  sensitive  or  highly  organized  nervous  system. 

Highth,  n.     A  form  of  height. 

High-time,  n.  Quite  time:  as,  "It  is  high-time  you  were 
going."      Full  time. 

High-toned,  adj.  Having  high  principles;  dignified;  self  re- 
specting. 

Hike,  v.  Hoist;  high.  "Hiked  up  on  a  horse."  Used 
in  disparagement;  to  a  person  who  seemed  to  be  out  of 
place,  he  was  asked  what  he  was  doing  "hiked  up  "  on  a 
horse,  fence,  or  other  high  place. 

Hild,  v.  Hilt.  Form  of  held,  past  tense  and  past  participle  of 
hold. 

Hill,  n.  A  little  mound  raised  about  a  cluster  of  cultivated 
plants:  as,  a  hill  of  corn  or  potatoes. 

Hill,  v.  To  form  small  hills  or  heaps  of  earth  around;  form  in 
hills  or  heaps.      "  To  hill  up  potatoes." 

Hilltop,  7i.     The  top  of  a  hill. 

Hilly,  adj.     Abounding  in  hills. 

Hi'most,  adj.     The  last  of  a  row  of  several.      Hindermost. 

Hind-foremost,  adv.  Hind  part  before.  Opposite  to  what  it 
ought  to  be.  "  Everything  has  been  going  hindforemost  to- 
day." 

Hind-gut,  ii.  The  lower  end  of  the  alimentary  canal;  the 
rectum. 

Hindward,  adj.      Posterior;  in  the  rear. 

Hint,  ii.  A  suggestion  made  indirectly;  a  covert  suggestion  or 
implication;  an  indirect  indication,  conveyed  by  speech, 
gesture,  action,  or  circumstance,  whether  intentional  or  un- 
intentional. 


Hipped— Ho.  187 

Hipped,/),  a.      Having  the  hip  sprained  or  dislocated. 

Hipped,/),  a.     Rendered  melancholy;  melancholy;  mopish. 

Hip-shot,  adj.  Having  the  hip  dislocated  or  shot  out  of  place; 
lame;  awkward.      Hipshotten. 

Hireing-day,  n.  Usually  the  county  court-day  before  Christ- 
mas, when  negroes  were  hired  for  the  next  year. 

Hireling,  n.  A  negro  hired  by  the  year,  distinguished  from 
one  owned  by  the  employer. 

Hisn,  pro n.  Also  hisn;  a  popular  formation,  like  hern,  ourn, 
yourn,  theirn  etc.     Same  as  his.      His  own. 

Hisself,  pron.     Himself;  alone.      "  By  hisself. " 

Hist,  v.  Hoist.  To  raise;  lift;  elevate;  to  raise  by  means  of 
block  and  tackle. 

Hit,  v.  Succeed.  "  If  peaches  hit  this  year  it  will  be  the  first 
time  in  three  years."  (2)  To  agree  with  some  other  time. 
"  He  can't  fix  his  appointments  to  make  them  hit  right." 

Hit,  v.  To  strike;  to  give  a  blow  to;  especially  to  strike  inten- 
tionally. 

Hitch,  ;;.     An  entanglement;  impediment. 

Hitch,  v.  To  fasten,  especially  in  a  temporary  or  occasional 
way;  make  fast;  tether;  tie  up  by  means  of  a  hook,  a  ring, 
a  bridle,  a  rope.  To  hitch  up,  to  harness  a  horse  or  horses 
to  a  vehicle. 

Hithe,  ;/.  A  port  or  haven.  "  Queenhithe,"  name  of  a  place 
in  Mulbury  Island. 

Hit-off,  n.     A  clever  presentation,  imitation,  or  travesty. 

Hit-or-miss,  adj.     Reckless;  haphazard. 

H'm,  interj.  Used  as  a  murmur  of  assent,  being  then  often 
repeated,  "h'm,  h'm." 

Ho,  interj.  A  cry  used  to  stop  one  who  is  passing;  now,  espe- 
cially, also  written  whoa,  a  cry  used  to  stop  a  horse,  or  other 
draft  animal.  > 


188  Hoard^Hoggish. 

Hoard,  v.     To  treasure  up;  collect  and  store;  lay  up. 

Hoarsen,  v.     To  make  hoarse. 

Hoax,  n.     One  who  misleads  or  deceives;  a  hoaxer;  humbug. 

Hoax,  v.  To  deceive  by  an  amusing  or  mischievous  fabrication 
or  fiction;  play  on  the  credulity  of. 

Hobble,  n.  An  unequal,  halting  gait;  a  limp;  an  awkward 
step.  Difficulty;  perplexity;  scrape.  "I'm  in  a  regular 
hobble." 

Hobbledehoy,  n.  A  stripling;  a  youth  in  the  half  formed  age 
preceding  manhood;  a  raw,  awkward  youth.  "  Hobblede- 
hoy, neither  man  nor  boy." 

Hobby,  n.     Any  favourite  object,  pursuit,  or  topic. 

Hobnob,  adv.  A  familiar  invitation  to  drink — to  take  or  not 
to  take. 

Hock,  n.     The  leg  end  of  a  ham,  including  the  bones  and  joint. 

Hockset,  n.  Hogshead.  A  large,  wooden  vessel  for  holding 
liquids  or  solids.      Hoxhead. 

Hoe,  ;/.  Iron  tool  for  moving  the  soil.  Weeding-hoes  are  very 
broad  and  thin  bladed,  for  pulling  dirt  to  the  corn;  hilling- 
hoes  narrower  and  longer  in  the  blade;  grubbing-hoes  with 
strong,  narrow,  cutting  blades,  for  grubbing  up  roots  and 
stumps. 

Hoe,  v.     To  cut,  dig,  scrape,  or  clean  off  with  a  hoe. 

Hoe-cake,  //.  Bread  made  of  corn-meal,  water  and  salt,  baked 
on  the  bottom  of  the  blade  of  an  old  wecding-hoe. 

Hog,  n.  Name  applied  to  swine.  (2)  A  mean,  stingy,  grasp- 
ing, gluttonous,  or  filthy  person. 

Hog-fish,  ;/.  A  fish  found  to  perfection  in  the  waters  of  Ches- 
apeake Bay. 

Hogged,/,  a.  I  laving  a  droop  at  the  ends;  said  of  a  ship 
when  her  ends  are  lower  than  her  middle  part. 

Hoggish,  adj.  Having  the  characteristics  of  a  hog;  swinish; 
greedy;  gluttonous;   filthy;  mean;  selfish. 


Hog-killing-time — Home-field.  189 

Hog-killing-time,  n.     The  season  when  hogs  are  slaughtered. 

Hog-minder,  n.     One  who  has  charge  of  hogs. 

Hog-pen,  n.     A  pen  for  hogs;  usually  made  of  fence  rails. 

Hog-round,  ;/.  Hams,  shoulders  and  middlings  have  different 
prices,  but  when  taken  all  together  at  one  price,  it  is  so 
much  hog-round. 

Hog-wallow,  n.  A  wet,  muddy  hole  where  hogs  wallow  to 
cool  themselves. 

Hog-wash,  ;/.  The  refuse  of  a  kitchen  or  brewery,  etc.,  given 
to  hogs  as  food;  swill. 

Hog-weed,  n.  One  of  several  weeds,  grows  up  in  a  field  after 
the  wheat  has  been  cut. 

Holding  her  hands,  v.  Idle;  unemployed.  "There  she 
stands  holding  her  hands." 

Hold  out,  v.  To  live,  or  do  business  at  any  place.  "Where 
do  you  hold  out?  "     "  He  holds  out  at  the  Court-house." 

Holerday,  n.     Holiday. 

Holler,  v.  To  call;  cry;  shout.  "When  the  rock  hit  him  it 
made  him  holler." 

Hollow,  adv.  Beyond  doubt  or  question;  utterly;  completely: 
as,  ' '  To  beat  him  holloiv. ' ' 

Hollow-hearted,  rt^/.      Insincere;  deceitful;  not  sound  or  true. 

Hollow-horn,  n.     A  fancied  disease  of  cattle. 

Hollow-ware,  n.  All  sorts  of  hollow  vessels  made  of  wood, 
and  sometimes  the  term  is  applied  to  sauce-pans,  skillets, 
and  other  like  hardware. 

Hollyhork,  n.     A  plant;  the  hollyhock. 

Holp,  v.  Hope.  Holpen,  the  past  tense  and  past  participle  of 
help. 

Holt,  n.  A  form  of  hold.  The  act  of  holding;  a  grasp;  grip, 
or  clutch:  as,  to  take  holt;  to  keep  holt  of  a  thing. 

Home-field,  n.     The  piece  of  land  adjoining  the  homestead. 


I 


190  Homelike— Hook. 

Homelike,  adj.  Having  the  qualities  that  constitute  a  home; 
suggesting  or  resembling  a  home;  familiar. 

Homely,  adj.  Plain;  without  particular  beauty  of  features, 
form,  or  colour:  as,  a  homely  face. 

Home-made,  adj.  Made  at  home;  of  domestic  maunfacture. 
"Home-made  bread." 

Homespun,  adj.  Spun  or  wrought  at  home,  as  distinguished 
from  the  bought  article. 

Homespun,  n.     Cloth  made  at  home;  home-made  clothing. 

Homestead,  n.  A  family's  dwelling-place,  with  the  enclosure 
or  grounds  immediately  contiguous;  an  abode;  a  home. 

Home-stretch,  n.  The  finishing  of  a  career;  the  ending  of  a 
race.      ' '  You  are  now  on  the  home-stretch. ' ' 

Hominy,  n.  Corn  hulled  and  ground  or  broken  more  or  less 
coarsely  and  prepared  for  food  by  being  mixed  with  water 
and  boiled. 

Hommer,  ;/.     A  hammer. 

Hommer,  v.     To  hammer;  to  beat. 

Hone,  v.     To  pine;  long;  yearn.     To  long  for;  crave. 

Honey,  n.     Sweet  one;  darling;  a  word  of  endearment. 

Honey,  v.     To  talk  sweetly  to;  coax;  flatter. 

Honey-cherry,  n.  Honey-heart;  a  large,  sweet,  heart-shaped 
cherry. 

Honeyfuggle,  v.     To  cajole;  wheedle. 

Honey-locust,  ;/.  A  tree  bearing  large  pods  that  become 
sweet  with  frost. 

Honey-pod,  n.     Same  as  honey-locust.      Honey-shuck. 

Hongry,  adj.      Hungry.      "I'm  very  hongry. " 

Honk,  )i.     The  cry  of  the  wild  goose. 

Hook,  v.     To  steal  by  grasping;  to  catch  up  and  make  off  with. 

Hook,  v.  To  have  a  habit  of  attacking  with  the  horns,  said  of 
a  cow.      li  She  hooks." 


Hook'ed — Hornbeam.  191 

Hook'ed,  adj.  Bent  like  a  hook;  hook-shaped:  a  "hook'ed- 
stick." 

Hook-nose,  n.  A  curved  nose  like  the  beak  of  a  hawk;  an 
aquiline  nose. 

Hookumpate,  n.  The  American  woodcock.  Imitating  the 
cry. 

Hoop-pole,  n.  A  small  sapling  of  green  wood,  for  making 
hoops  for  casks. 

Hooter,  n.  A  dram;  a  drink;  from  a  tin  cup  from  which  the 
drink  was  taken. 

Hop,  ;/.     A  dance;  a  dancing  party. 

Hop,  v.     Hopping  mad,  so  mad  as  to  hop  or  jump  about  in 

rage;  violently  angry. 
Hope,  n.     Aninlet;  asmallbay;  a  haven.      "  Archer's  Hope," 

on  James  River. 

Hope,  v.     Past  tense  of  help;  holp. 

Hopeful,  n.  A  more  or  less  willfull,  troublesome,  or  incorrigible 
boy  or  girl,  regarded  ironically  as  the  rising  hope  of  the 
family. 

Hopper,  n.  The  large,  funnel-shaped  trough  over  the  mill- 
stones, in  which  is  placed  the  grain  to  be  ground. 

Hoppergrass,  n.      For  grasshopper. 

Hopple,  v.  To  tie  the  feet  together  so  as  only  to  walk  with 
short  steps.     Generally  applied  to  hopples  for  horses. 

Hopscot,  n.     A  children's  game. 

Horn,;/.      "  In  a  horn."     Spoken  of  as  a  thing  never  likely  to 

happen. 
Horn,  n.       A   draught  of  strong  liquor:  as,  to    take   a    horn. 

Probably  because  early  drinking  vessels  were  made  of  horn. 

Horn,  v.     To  gore  with  the  horns. 
•  Hornbeam,  n.     A  small  tree  like  a  beech,  of  very  hard  wood. 


192  Horn-tumbler— Houn. 

Horn-tumbler,  n.     A  drinking  cup  shaped  like  a  tumbler  and 

made  of  a  cow's  horn. 
Horrid,  adj.     Very  bad  or  offensive;  abominable.     "These  are 

horrid  roads." 
Horrors,  n.     Extreme  depression;    the  blues.      Delirium   tre- 
mens. 
Horse,  n.     A  cross-legged  frame  on  which  logs  are  laid  to  be 

sawn.     Saw -horse.     Wood-horse. 
Horse,  v.     To  be  mounted  on  another's  back  to  be  flogged. 
Horse-block,  n.     A  block  to  mount  on  horseback  from. 
Horse-cake,  n.     Gingerbread  fashioned  into  the  shape  of  a 

horse. 
Horse-clog,  n.     A  block  of  wood  or  other  material  fastened  to 
a  horse's  leg  by  a  rope  or  chain  to  keep  him  from  straying. 
Horse-collar,  n.     A  collar  made  of  leather  and  stuffed  with 

straw,  with  creases  to  fit  the  hames. 
Horse-colt,  n.     A  young  male  horse. 
Horseflesh,  n.     Horses  collectively,  with  reference  to  driving, 

riding  or  racing. 
Horse-fly,  n.     A  large  fly  that  bites  horses  and  cattle. 
Horse-meat,  n.     Horse  feed.     Licenses  generally  read,  "to 

sell  liquors,  provisions  and  korsemeat." 
Horse-sense,  n.     A  crude,  instinctive  kind  of  common  sense, 
independent  of  instruction  or  experience;  a  coarse,  robust, 
and  conspicuous  form  of  shrewdness  often  found  in  ignorant 
and  rude  persons;  plain,  practical,  good  sense. 
Horsey,  adj.     Applied  to  a  mare  in  heat.      Horseing. 
Hot,  adj.      Half  drunk. 
Hot,  adj.      Mad;  angry. 

Hot-headed,  adj.     Of  ardent  passions;  vehement;  rash. 
Hot-tempered,  adj.      Having  a  violent  temper. 
Houn,  11.     A  variant  of  hound.     A  dog. 


Hound — How  come.  193 

Hound,  ;/.     A  mean  contemptible  fellow;  a  dastard;  a  poltroon. 

Hounds,  n.  pi.  A  pair  of  side-bars  or  horizontal  braces  for 
strengthening  parts  of  the  running-gear  of  a  waggon. 

Hour,  n.     An  hour  by  sun,  an  hour  before  sunset. 

House,  n.     Never  howse. 

House,  v.  To  gather  under  cover;  put  under  shelter.  "All 
of  the  crops  have  been  housed. 

Housed  over,  v.  Covered  over  as  with  a  roof.  "  I've  got  my 
pile  of  coal  housed  over. 

Household  goods,  n.  pi.      Furniture  of  a  house. 

Housen,  n.  pi.     For  houses. 

House-raising,  ;/.  When  a  man  in  the  country  was  building 
a  house  his  neighbours  went  to  help  him  raise  the  corner- 
posts,  "jists,"  plates,  and  other  heavy  pieces. 

Housetop,  n.     The  roof  or  top  of  a  house. 

Housewarming,  n.  A  merrymaking  to  celebrate  the  entry  of 
a  family  into  a  new  home. 

Housewife,  n.  Huzzy.  A  case  for  pins,  needles,  thread,  scis- 
sors, etc. 

Housing,  n.  A  collection  of  houses;  all  that  appertains  to  the 
house  or  homestead,  its  outbuildings,  etc. 

Hove,  v.     Past  tense  and  past  participle  of  heave. 

Hovel,  n.     A  small  house  for  housing  fowls  on  the  ground. 

Hovel,  v.  To  cover  chickens  as  a  hen.  "  That  hen  has  more 
chickens  than  she  can  hovel.''' 

Hover,  v.  To  hang  fluttering  in  the  air,  as  a  bird  while  seek- 
ing food  or  a  place  to  alight.  (2)  To  be  in  an  indeterminate 
or  irresolute  state;  to  waver  as  to  a  decision  or  a  result. 

How,  n.     Way.      "  I  can't  do  it  no  how.'" 

How  come,  v.     Pronounced  Imc-cum.     How  came  it?     How 

did  it  happen  ? 

13 


194  Howdy— Huff. 

Howdy,  inter j.     A  contraction  of  hoic  do  you  do? 

Howdy-do,  n.  An  embarrassing  or  troublesome  state  of  affairs 
which  suddenly  confronts  one. 

Howe,  n.     Hoe. 

Howell,  n.  A  cooper's  tool  for  smoothing  work,  as  the  inside 
of  a  cask. 

Howell,  v.     To  smooth;  plane. 

Howl,  v.     To  utter  in  a  loud  wailing  tone. 

Howse,  v.  To  put  under  shelter.  "  For  the  better  provision 
of  howseing  of  said  children." 

Howsomever,  adv.     In  what  manner  or  to  what  degree  soever. 

Hrup,  n.      A  hritft;  a  whip. 

Hrup,  v.     To  whip. 

Hub,  n.  The  central  part  of  a  wheel  in  which  the  spokes  are 
put.     Nave. 

Hubbub,  n.  A  great  noise  of  many  confused  voices  or  sounds; 
a  tumult;  uproar;  riot. 

Huck-bone,  n.     The  bone  of  the  rump  of  beef. 

Huckleberry,  n.     A  small,  bluish,  round,  sweet,  wild  berry. 

Hue  come,  v.  How  comes  it;  why.  "Hue  come  you  didn't 
say  so  ?  " 

Huckster,  n.  A  retailer  of  small  articles;  a  small  dealer  in 
agricultural  produce. 

Huddle,  ;/.  A  number  of  persons  or  things  thrown  together 
without  rule  or  order;  a  confused  crowd  or  cluster;  a  jumble. 

Huddle,  v.  To  put  on  in  haste  or  disorder,  as  the  clothes. 
(2)  To  crowd;  press  together  promiscuously;  press  or  hurry 
in  disorder.      "They  were  all  huddled  up  together." 

Hue  and  cry,  //.  A  cry;  a  shout;  loud  shouting  of  many 
voices,  as  in  pursuit  of  game  or  of  a  fugitive. 

Huff,  ft.      In  a  huff;  huffish;  angry. 


Huffish— Humbug.  195 

Huffish,  adj.     Petulant;  ill-humoured. 

Huffs,  n.  pi.     The  hoofs  of  an  animal;  also  applied  in  derision 
to  the  feet  of  people.      "  What  huffs  he  has  got! ' : 

Huffy,  adj.     Characterized  by  petulance  or  ill  temper. 

Hug,  v.  To  grasp  firmly  and  completely  with  the  arms;  em- 
brace closely;  clasp  to  the  breast. 

Hug,  n.     A  close  embrace. 

Hug-me-close,  n.  A  fowl's  merry-thought;  wish  bone,  or 
clavicle. 

Huh,  inter/.     Answer  to  a  call.      ' '  Sally ! ' '     "Huh. ' ' 

Hulk,  n.  Anything  bulky  or  unyielding;  a  large,  unwieldy 
person. 

Hulking,  adj.     Unwieldy;  heavy  and  clumsy. 

Hulky,  adj.     Clumsy;  loutish;  hulking. 

Hull,  n.  An  outer  covering,  particularly  of  a  nut  or  grain. 
Walnut-hulls.      Pea-hulls. 

Hull,  v.     To  strip  off  the  hull  or  hulls:  as,  to  hull  walnuts. 

Hull-gull,  ;/.  A  guessing  game  for  children.  One  player 
takes  a  number  of  chinkapens  in  his  closed  hand,  saying 
"  hull-guli !."  Another  says:  "  Hand  full."  Then  the  first 
says :  ' '  How  many  ?  ' !  The  other  player  then  guesses  at 
the  number,  taking  all  if  the  guess  is  correct,  otherwise 
making  up  the  discrepancy.     They  play  alternately. 

Hum,  v.  To  sing  with  shut  mouth;  murmur  without  articula- 
tion. 

Human,  n.  A  human  being;  a  member  of  the  family  of  man- 
kind.     "  I  didn't  see  a  human." 

Humblebee,  n.     A  large  kind  of  bee. 

Humbug,  n.  An  impostor;  a  cheat;  a  deceitfull  fellow;  a  per- 
son given  to  cajolery,  flattery,  or  specious  stories. 

Humbug,  .v.  To  deceive  by  a  false  pretense;  impose  upon; 
cajole;  hoax. 


196  Humbuggerry — Husband. 

Humbuggerry,  n.     The  practice  of   humbug;  false  pretense; 

imposition. 
Humour,  n.     Watery  matter  in  some  skin  breakings-out. 

Humour,  v.  To  comply  with  the  humour,  fancy,  or  disposi- 
tion of;  soothe  by  compliance;  indulge;  gratify. 

Humoursome,  adj.  Capricious;  peevish;  petulant.  (2) 
Adapted  to  excite  laughter;  odd;  humourous. 

Humpback,  n.  A  crooked  or  hunched  back;  one  who  has  a 
crooked  back.      Hunchback. 

Hunch,  n.  To  push  or  jog  with  the  fist  or  elbow.  Or  with 
the  head.      "  The  lambs  hunched  the  ewe's  bags." 

Hunderd,  n.     Hundred. 

Hundred-legs,  ;/.     A  centipede. 

Hung,  v.     For  hanged.     ' '  The  murderer  was  hung  yesterday. 

Hunk,  n.     A  large  lump,  piece  or  slice.      Hunch. 

Hunt,  v.  To  seek  after;  pursue;  seek.  "I've  found  you  at 
last;  I've  been  hunting  for  you  all  day." 

Hunt,  n.  The  act  of  seeking  for,  or,  chasing  game  or  other 
wild  animals  for  the  purpose  of  catching  or  killing  them ;  a 
pursuit;  a  chase. 

Hunting-shirt,  n.  A  shirt  worn  by  hunter's,  fitting  loosely, 
with  a  belt  about  the  waist,  originally  made  of  buckskin  and 
highly  ornamented. 

Hurry-skurry,  n.  Fluttering  haste;  swift  disorderly  move- 
ment. 

Hurrah,  v.  A  word  of  encouragement,  for  hurry.  '  Hurrah 
now,  let  us  finish  the  job  before  night." 

Hurrah's  nest,  n.  A  state  of  confusion  or  disorder.  A 
rumpled  and  uncombed  head  is  said  to  look  like  a  hurrah' s 
nest.      "  Your  head  looks  like  a  hurrah' s  ?iest." 

Hurt,  v.     To  do  harm.      "  Nothing  to  hurt." 
Husband,  n.       Steward;    one  who  has  the  care  of  another's 
property. 


Hush— Idler.  197 

Hush,  v.  To  be  silent  or  quiet.  "  He  was  crying  but  I  spoke 
to  him  and  he  hushed. . " 

Hushaby,  interj.  Hush:  a  word  used  in  lulling  children  to 
sleep. 

Huskanaw,  n.  An  Indian  ceremony  to  prepare  boys  to  be 
young  men. 

Husky,  adj.  Abounding  with,  consisting  of,  or  resembling 
husks. 

Husky,  adj.  Dry  in  the  throat;  hoarse;  sounding  rough:  said 
of  the  voice  or  utterance. 

Huslement,  n.  Hustlement.  Furniture.  Odds  and  ends. 
' '  Lumber  and  huslement  about  the  house. ' ' 

Huss,  n.  Husk.  The  bran  that  is  sifted  out  of  corn-meal. 
"  Meal-huss" 

Huss,  n.     Husk.     The  spike  on  which  the  grains  of  corn  grow. 

Hussy,  n.  Huzzy.  A  pert  willfull  woman  or  girl;  a  frolicsome 
or  mischievous  girl. 

Hussy,  ;/.      Huzzy.     A  case  for  scissors,  needles,  thread,  etc. 

Husting's-court,  n.  A  municipal  court  having  civil  and  crim- 
inal jurisdiction  within  the  city  limits. 

Hustle,  v.  To  shake  or  throw  things  together  confusedly  or  in 
a  disorderly  manner;  jostle:   as,  to  hustle  things  together. 

Hy  spy,  n.     A  boys'  game. 

I 

Idea,  n.  An  ooinion;  a  thought,  especially  one  not  well  estab- 
lished by  evidence. 

Idle,  adj.  Not  engaged  in  any  occupation  or  employment,  un- 
employed; inactive;  doing  nothing. 

Idle,  adj.     Wandering  in  mind;  light-headed. 

Idler,  adj.  One  who  idles;  one  who  spends  his  time  in  inaction, 
or  without  occupation  or  employment;  a  lounging  or  lazy 
person;  a  sluggard. 


198  Ifs  and  ands — Inch-worm. 

Ifs  and  ands,;/.//.  Hesitation;  indecision.  "Don't  come 
here  with  your  '  ifs  and  ands.' 

Hand,  ;/.      Former  and  proper  way  of  spelling  island. 

He,  n.     A  form  of  oil. 

He  of  White,  n.     The  county  of  Isle  of  Wight. 

Ill-conditioned,  adj.     Ill-tempered. 

Ill-contrived,  adj.     Crabbed;  cross;  ill-tempered. 

Ill- convenient,  adj.  Inconvenient;  not  to  be  done  conven- 
iently. 

Ill-mannered,  adj.  Of  bad  manners;  uncivil;  impolite;  rude; 
boorish. 

Ill-natured,  adj.  Having  a  bad  temper;  churlish;  crabbed; 
surly;  spiteful. 

Ill-tempered,  adj.  Having  a  bad  temper;  morose,  crabbed; 
petulant;  surly;  cross. 

Ill-timed,  adj.     Not  at  a  suitable  time;  unseasonable. 

Ill-will,  n.     Enmity;  malevolence. 

Imp,  >i.     A  mischievous  or  pert  child. 

Impedent,  adj.      Impudent. 

Impolite,  adj.  Unpolished  in  manners;  not  polite;  ill-man- 
nered; rude;  uncivil. 

Imposition,  n.      A  trick  or  deception;  a  fraud;  an  imposture. 

Improvements,  n.  pi.  Valuable  additions,  as  building,  clear- 
ings, dreans,  fences,  on  a  farm. 

In.  In-.  Through  confusion  with  the  endings  in  -end,  -e?ide, 
-inde,  -and,  -ande,  the  g  has  been  dropped  in  the  pronouncia- 
tion. 

Inch,  v.  To  advance  or  retire  by  small  degrees;  move  reluct- 
antly <>r  l)\-  inches:  as,  "  To  inch  away  from  the  fire."  '  He 
kept  inching  his  chair  up  to  Mary." 

Inch-worm,  ;/.      A  drop  worm  or  measuring-worm. 


Incline — Ins  and  outs.  199 

Incline,  v.  To  have  a  mental  bent  or  tendency;  be  disposed; 
tend,  as  towards  an  opinion,  a  course  of  action,  etc. 

Incline,  n.     A  slope. 

Indian-field, ;/.  A  clearing  used  by  the  Indians  for  corn  plant- 
ing, and  abandoned;  then  grown  up  in  bushes  and  broom- 
straw. 

Indian-file,  n.  Single  file;  one  following  after  and  treading  in 
the  footsteps  of  another. 

Indian-meal,  n.     Meal  made  from  Indian  corn. 

Indian-summer,  n.  A  period  in  the  fall  characterized  by  calm 
and  absence  of  rain. 

India-rubber,  ;/.     An  overshoe  made  of  india-rubber. 

Indian  wheat,  n.     Corn;  maize. 

Indifferent,  adj.  Common  kind  or  quality;  only  passable;  or- 
dinary: as,  "  They  are  indifferent  sort  of  people. " 

Indoors,  adv.  Within  doors;  into  or  inside  a  house  or  dwel- 
ling.     Indoor  servant  is  one  who  does  not  work  in  the  fields. 

Indulge,  v.  To  be  kind  or  complaisant  to;  yield  to  the  wish 
or  humour  of;  gratify  by  complaisance;  refrain  from  restrain- 
ing; humour.  (2)  Gratify  one's  self  freely;  give  free  course 
to  the  gratification  of  one's  desires  or  appetites. 

Industrous,  adj.  Marked  by  industry;  done  with  or  charac- 
terized by  diligence;  busily  pursued;  perform,  or  employed. 

Inglish-meale,  n.  Wheat  flour,  to  distinguish  from  Indian 
meal,  made  from  corn. 

Ingun,  n.     An  onion. 

Inkling,  ;/.  A  hint;  an  intimation;  a  slight  or  imperfect  idea 
or  notion. 

Inlet,  n.  A  waterway  into  a  sea  or  lake,  and  forming  part  of 
it;  a  strip  of  water  running  from  a  larger  body  into  the  land; 
a  creek. 

Ins  and  outs,  n.  The  full  particulars.  "I've  heard  the  ins 
and  outs  of  it. ' ' 


200  Inside — Iron-back. 

Inside,  adv.  Of  time  or  space;  within  limit:  followed  by  of. 
"  He'll  be  here  inside  of  two  hours." 

Insides,  n.  pi.     The  organs  inside  of  the  body. 

Instant,  n.     Present:  as,  at  this  instant,  right  away. 

Instefy,  v.      Instify.     To  show;  testify;  set  forth. 

Insurance,  n.      For  assurance.      Great  boldness;  impudence. 

Int,  v.     To  annoint.     Aaint.     To  smear  with  fatty  matter. 

Intend,  v.  To  fix  the  mind  upon,  as  something'  to  be  done  or 
brought  about;  have  in  mind  or  purpose;  design.  To  have 
intention;  be  inclined  or  disposed.  "  I  intend  to  go  to  town 
to-morrow." 

Intended,  n.  The  person  whom  one  intends  to  marry:  as,  "I 
saw  him  riding  out  with  his  intended." 

Interesting,  adj.     The  third  syllable  long. 

In  the  night,  prep.  Night-time;  during  the  night.  "Possums 
and  such  varmints  only  run  about  in  the  night.'" 

In  the  straw,  n.  Lying  in;  a  woman  is  said  to  be  in  the  straw 
when  she  is  lying  in,  and  not  ready  to  get  up. 

Intment,  n.     Ointment. 

Intruder,  >i.  A  person  who  goes  to  a  party  or  wedding  with- 
out invitation. 

Inventory,  v.  To  make  an  inventory.  "To  inventory  and 
appraise  all  such  Estate. 

Invite,  n.      An  imitation:  as,  "  Did  you  get  an  invite." 

Inwards,  ;/.  pi.  In'ards.  The  inner  parts  of  an  animal;  the 
bowels;  the  viscera. 

I'on,  ;/.     The  pronunciation  of  iron. 

Irish  potato,  n.  The  well  known  potato  so-called  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  s7veet-polato. 

Iron-back,  ;/.  A  large  iron  plate  set  up  against  the  back  of  the 
chimney  to  shield  the  bricks,  and  to  throw  out  the  heat. 
They  were  ornamented  and  had  on  them  coats  of  arms. 


Iron-gray — Jacket.  201 

Iron-gray,  n.  A  colour;  steel-gray,  usually  applied  to  the 
colour  of  horses. 

Iron-mould,  n.  Discolouration,  in  cloth  or  the  like,  caused  by 
stains  from  rusted  iron. 

Iron-mould,  v.  To  stain  or  discolour,  as  cloth,  by  means  of 
iron-rust. 

Ishickle,  n.      Icicle. 

I-spy,  n.  So  called  from  the  exclamation  of  the  seeker  "  I-spy" 
so-and-so,  when  he  discovers  a  hidden  player.  A  children's 
game. 

Itchy,  adj.     Characterized  by  or  having  an  itching  sensation. 

Item,  n.  A  scrap:  as,  "I  haven't  got  an  item  of  tobacco,  or 
anything  else."     (2)  A  hint. 

Itself,  pron.  By  itself,  alone;  apart;  separately  from  anything 
else. 

It's  me,  v.     Never,  "  it  is  I."      "It's  me  and  Tom." 

I-yi,  exclam.     Answer  to  a  call.      "  Bob  !  "  "  I-yi." 

Izzard,  n.  The  letter  z.  "  From  a  to  izzard."  From  begin- 
to  end;  from  first  to  last. 

J 

Jabber, ;/.  Rapid  talk  with  indistinct  utterance  of  words;  chat- 
tering. 

Jabber,  v.  To  talk  rapidly,  indistinctly,  imperfectly,  or  non- 
sensically; utter  gibberish;  chatter;  prate. 

Jabberer,  ?i.     One  who  jabbers;  who  talks  nonsense. 

Jack,  n.     Any  one  of  the  knaves  in  a  pack  of  playing-cards. 

Jack,  ;/.     The  male  of  certain  animals:  as,  a.  jack-ass. 

Jackass,  n.  A  very  stupid  or  ignorant  person;  used  in  con- 
tempt. 

Jacket,  11,  A  short  coat  or  body  garment;  any  garment  for  the 
body  coming  not  lower  than  the  hips. 


202  Jacketing— Jar. 

Jacketing,;/.      A  thrashing.     To  warm  his  jacket. 

Jack-frost,  n.  Frost.  "Jack-frost  is  about  this  morning;"  a 
cold  morning  when  the  ground  is  white. 

Jack-leg,  adj.  Used  to  signify  a  poor  specimen  in  any  trade  or 
profession :   "a  jack-leg  carpenter ;  "  "a  jack-leg  doctor. ' ' 

Jack-m'lantern,  n.  A  light  that  goes  about  at  night  to  mis- 
lead people,  carrying  them  who  follow  through  briars  and 
swamps. 

Jack-plane,  ;/.      A  large  plane  for  coarse  work. 

Jackstraws,  n.  pi.  A  children's  game.  The  several  pieces 
are  to  be  taken  from  the  heap  without  moving  any  one  of 
the  rest. 

Jade,  v.  Tire  out;  ride  or  drive  without  sparing;  overdrive:  as, 
to  jade  a  horse.     To  weary  or  fatigue  in  general. 

Jag,  ;/.     A  lot;  parcel;  small  load. 

Jagged,/),  a.  Having  notches  or  teeth,  or  ragged  edges;  cleft; 
divided. 

Jaggy%  &dj.     Set  with  jags  or  teeth;  notched;  jagged. 

Jags,;/./)/.     Tatters.      "  Rags  and  jags." 

Jakes,  ;;.     A  privy. 

Jam,  n.  A  crush;  a  squeeze;  pressure  by  thrusting  or  crowd- 
ing. 

Jam,  v.  To  press;  squeeze;  to  thrust  or  press  down  or  in  with 
force  or  violence.      "  We  jammed  me  in  a  corner." 

Jamb,  n.  The  inside  wall  of  a  fireplace;  the  inside  posts  of  a 
door.     The  upright  side  of  door,  window,  chimney. 

Jam-up,  adj.     A  degree  of  high  perfection. 

Janders,  n.     For  juaundice.     "Yallerjanders." 

Jangle,  v.      To  quarrel;  altercate;   wrangle. 

Jangly,  adj.     Jangling  or  jangled;  harsh  sounding. 

Jar,  n.  A  clashing  of  interests  or  opinions;  collision;  discord; 
debate;  conflict:  as,  family  jars. 


Jar— Jesuit's  bark.  203 

Jar,  n.     A  turn;  turned  a  little  way,  as  a  door  or  gate;  on  a 
jar,  on  the  jar,  ajar,  on  the  turn. 

Jaunders,  ;/.     A  form  of  jaundice. 

Jaunt,  n.  A  ramble;  an  excursion;  a  short  journey,  especially 
one  made  for  pleasure. 

Jaw,  n.  Rude  loquacity;  coarse  railing;  abusive  clamour; 
wrangling. 

Jaw,  v.  To  talk  or  gossip;  also,  to  scold;  to  talk  in  an  offensive 
way;  to  give  saucy  answers. 

Jaw-breakers,  ;/.  pi.     Words  hard  to  pronounce. 

Jay-bird,  ;/.  The  common  blue  jay.  This  bird  is  said  to  go  to 
hell  every  Friday  to  carry  the  devil  a  grain  of  corn.  For 
that  reason  they  are  never  seen  on  the  morning  of  that 
day.  When  they  get  back  they  are  very  noisy  and  their 
eyes  red  from  the  heat. 

Jeames,  ;;.  Proper  name.  Jeames  River.  A  colloquial  name 
of  James;  formerly  in  common  use. 

Jeans,  ;/.  A  twilled  cotton  cloth,  used  both  for  under  wear  and 
outter  clothing. 

Jericho,  n.     A  long  way  off.      "  I  wish  he  was  in  Jericho" 

Jerk,  n.  A  short,  sharp  pull,  thrust  or  twitch:  a  jolt;  a  twitch- 
ing or  spasmodic  movement. 

Jerk,  v.  To  pull  or  thrust  with  sudden  energy;  act  upon  with 
a  twitching  or  snatching  motion;  move  with  quick,  sharp 
force. 

Jerks,  n.  pi.     A  convulsive  jerking  all  over. 

Jerky,  adj.  Of  a  jerking  character;  acting  by  jerks;  spasmodic- 
impatient. 

Jesse,  n.  To  give  one  Jesse,  to  give  one  a  good  scolding  or 
dressing;  punish  one  severely. 

Jest,  adv.     A  form  of  just. 

Jesuit's  bark,  n.  Peruvian  bark;  the  bark  of  the  chinchona 
tree. 


204  Jew— Job. 

Jew,  n.     For  dew,  and  due. 

Jew,  v.  To  overreach;  cheat;  beat  unfairly  at  a  bargain:  as,. 
to  jew  one  out  of  a  dollar.  To  jew  down,  to  beat  down  the 
price  of. 

Jews-harp,  n.  A  musical  instrument  held  in  the  player's 
mouth. 

Jibe,z'.     To  agree;  being  in  harmony  or  accord;  work  together. 

Jib-rags,  n.  pi.     Torn  into  strips  or  small  pieces. 

Jice,  n.     Joists;  joist. 

Jiffy,  n.      A  moment;  an  instant.      "I   will   be   with   you   in   a 

My" 

Jiggamy,  n.     Any  implement  or  tool. 

Jigger,  ;/.     A  small,  red  tick.      Chigger. 

Jiggumbob,  n.  Something  strange,  peculiar,  or  unknown;  a 
thingumbob. 

Jimber-jaw,  n.     A  projecting  lower  jaw. 

Jimber-jawed,  adj.     Having  a  projecting  lower  jaw. 

Jimjams,  n.  pi.      Delirium  tremens. 

Jimmy,  adj.     Spruce;  neat;  smart;  handy;  dextrous. 

Jimmy-john,  n.     A  form  of  demijohn. 

Jimpson-weed,  ?i.  Name  of  a  weed,  Jamestown  weed.  Da- 
tura stramonium. 

Jine,  v.     To  join.       '  He's  going  to  jinc  the  military  company." 

Jint,  >i.     Joint. 

Job,  n.  A  sudden  stab,  prick,  or  thrust,  as  with  anything 
pointed. 

Job,  u.  A  particular  piece  of  work;  something  to  be  done; 
something  to  do. 

Job,  v.     To  strike,  stab,  or  punch,  as  with  something  pointed. 
Job,  //.      Do  a.  job,  to  go  to  stool. 


Job's  comforter — Jowery.  205 

Job's  comforter,  n.  One  who  depresses  and  discourages  un- 
der the  appearance  of  consoling. 

Jog,  v.  To  stimulate  gently;  stir  up  by  a  hint  or  reminder:  as, 
to  give  a.  jog  to  one's  memory.  (2)  To  move  idly,  heavily, 
or  slowly:  a  jog-trot.  (3)  To  be  jogging,  to  go  away; 
move  on.      "  Come,  let's  he  jogging." 

Joggle,  v.  To  shake  slightly ;  give  a  sudden  but  slight  push; 
jolt;  jostle. 

Joggly,  adj.     Unsteady;  shaky. 

Jog-trot,  n.  A  slow,  easy  jogging  motion  on  horseback. 
Monotonous ;  easy-going. 

John  Barleycorn,  n.     Whiskey. 

Johnny-cake,  n.  Made  with  corn  meal  mixed  with  water  or 
milk,  seasoned  with  salt,  and  baked  on  a  board  set  on  edge 
before  the  fire.     Journey  cake  (  ? ). 

Joices,  n.  pi.  For  joists;  beams  running  across,  the  ends  rest- 
ing on  the  plates  for  holding  the  floor  of  a  house. 

Join,  v.  Two  pieces  of  land  lying  alongside  of  each  other 
"joined.''''  A  man  was  said  to  want  all  the  land  that 
"joined"  his  own. 

Joint-stool,  n.  A  stool  made  of  parts  fitted  or  joined  together, 
as  distinguished  from  one  roughly  made,  as  from  planks,  or 
a  single  block. 

Jones,  n.  Go  to  see  Mrs.  Jones,  going  to  the  privy.  Used  in 
the  country. 

Josey,  n.     A  little  jacket,  part  of  a  girl's  dress. 

Joskin,  n.     A  clownish  fellow;  a  countryman. 

Jostle,  7/.     A  pushing  about  or  crowding;  a  shock  or  encounter. 

Jower,  v.     To  quarrel  with  much  confused  talk;  all  talking  to- 
gether. 
Jowerings,  n.  pi.     Scoldings;  growlings. 

Jowery,  adj.     Given  to  scolding;  growling;  grumbling. 


206  Jowl— Junk-bottle. 

Jowl,  n.  The  lower  jaw  of  a  hog,  prepared  for  the  table:  as, 
"jowl  and  turnip  sallet." 

Juba,  n.  A  negro  dance.  One  sang,  patting  his  hands  to- 
gether, and  on  his  thighs,  keeping  time  with  his  foot,  while 
one  or  more  danced  to  the  music. 

Juba-patting,  n.  The  patting  on  the  knee  or  thigh  practiced 
by  negroes  in  keeping  time  to  the  juba-dance. 

Jubilee,  ;/.  Any  exceptional  season  or  course  of  rejoicing  or 
festivity;  a  special  occasion  or  manifestation  of  joyousness. 

Jug,  ;/.  Earthenware  vessels  of  several  sizes  with  a  handle  on 
one  side,  a  small  mouth  to  be  stopped  with  a  cork,  for  hold- 
ing liquids.      Never  used  for  pitcher. 

Jug,  v.     To  put  in  prison.      "  He  was  jugged  for  five  years." 

Jugfull,  n.     Not  by  a  jugfu/1,  not  by  a  great  deal;  by  no  means. 

Julep,  it.  Mint  julep,  made  by  pouring  brandy  on  sugar  and 
cracked  ice,  to  which  is  added  sprigs  of  fresh  mint. 

Jumble,  v.  To  mix  in  a  confused  mass;  put  or  throw  together 
without  order;  often  followed  by  tip  or  together. 

Jumble,  n.     A  confused  mixture,  mass,  or  collection;   a   state 

of  disorder  or  confusion. 
Jump,  v.     To  move  or  spring  suddenly  when  startled.      "  When 

he  heard  the  door  slam  it  made  him  jump.'"     "  To  jump  for 

joy-" 

Jumping-mullet,  ;/.      A  small  fish  that  jumps  out  of  the  water 

when  startled. 
Jump  over  the  broom,  n.      Phrase  for  an  irregular  marriage. 

June-bug,  n.  A  large,  smooth,  greenish  beetle.  It  is  tied  by 
one  of  its  legs  with  a  long,  fine  string  and  allowed  to  fly, 
making  a  humming  noise. 

Junk,  n.      A  thick  piece;  a  lump:  a  chunk. 

Junk-bottle,  >i.  The  ordinary  black,  glass  bottle,  low  and  big 
round. 


Just — Keep  on.  207 

Just,  adv.  Immediately  before  the  time  then  passing.  "He 
\\2L&just  gone  when  I  got  there." 

Just  now,  adv.  A  short  time  ago;  lately:  as,  "  He  was  here 
just  now. 

Just  so,  adv.  In  one  particular  way.  "He  likes  everything 
just  so. 

Juty,  n.      For  duty. 

K 

Kearb,  n.     A  stone,  brick,  or  other  casing  in  a  well,  or  spring. 

Kearb,  v.     To  hold  in  check.      Kerb.     Curb. 

Kearbine,  n.      Carbine,  with  hard  c.     Kerbine. 

Kearby,  n.     The  surname  Kerby,  or  Kirby. 

Keard,  //.     Card. 

Kearnel,  ;/.  Kernel.  Edible  substance  contained  the  shell  of 
a  nut  or  the  stone  of  a  fruit. 

Kearnel,  n.  Enlarged  lymphatic  glands,  in  the  groins,  or 
about  the  neck;  waxen  kearnels. 

Keel,  v.  To  keel  over.  To  fall  suddenly;  tumbledown  or  over, 
as  from  fright  or  a  blow,  or  in  a  faint. 

Keeled  up,  adj.  Laid  up  or  worn  out  from  sickness  or  old  age. 
"  He's  been  keeled  up  for  more  than  a  year." 

Keener,  ;/.  Having  or  manifesting  great  mental  acuteness; 
acute;  sharp. 

Keep,  v.  (i)  To  be  in  health.  "Are  you  keeping  well  this 
fall?"  (2)  To  maintain  an  establishment.  "He  keeps 
house  now,  and  has  given  up  boarding."  (3)  "  He  keeps  a 
boy's  school."  "  He  is  a  drygoods-man  and  keeps  in  Wil- 
liamsburg." 

Keep  going,  v.  Keep  about;  up  and  out  of  bed;  continue  to 
go  to  work.  "  He  has  not  been  well  for  sometime,  but  he 
kep'  going  till  last  Sadday  when  he  was  forced  to  give  up." 

Keep  on,  v.     To  continue.      "  It  keeps  on  raining." 


208  Keeps— Killing. 

Keeps,  n.  pi.  For  keeps,  to  be  kept  or  retained;  to  be  held  or 
retained  as  one's  own;  for  good:  as,  to  play  marbles  "for 
keeps, ' '  each  player  to  keep  the  marbles  he  wins. 

Kelter,  n.  Order;  proper  form,  adaptation,  or  condition:  as, 
out  of  kelter. 

Kep,  v.      Past  tense  of  keep;  kept. 

Kerf,  n.  Kearf.  A  channel  or  cut  made  in  wood  by  a  saw  or 
other  cutting  instrument.  A  cut  in  a  tree  with  an  axe  for 
felling. 

Ketch,;/.  Catch.  A  metal  or  wooden  implement  for  fastening 
a  door.  The  latch  is  raised  by  pressing  on  a  thumb-piece 
on  the  outside. 

Kerseymere,  n.     A  kind  of  coarse  cloth. 

Ketch,  v.      A  form  of  catch.      Ketcht,  for  caught. 

Key-basket,  n.  A  small  basket,  very  neatly  made  of  white- 
oak  splits,  in  which  all  the  keys  of  the  household  were  kept. 
It  was  always  kept  in  one  place,  and  when  a  key  was  used 
it  was  put  back. 

Kias  beds  ? 

Kick,  n.      Fashion;  novelty;    thing  in  vogue:    as,  "The  latest 

kick." 
Kick,  v.     To  refuse;  to  jilt. 
Kick,  v.     To  kick  up  a  row,  to  create  a  disturbance. 

Kicking  about,  v.  Lying  about;  out  of  place;  neglected.  "  He 
leaves  his  things  kicking  about." 

Kidney,  n.     Sort  or  kind:  as,  of  that  kidney. 

Kill,  n.     Kiln.     Brick- kill;  lime-/-///. 

Kildee, ;/.     Imitative  of  the  bird's  cry.     The  largest  ring-plover.  ' 

Killick,  n.  A  small  anchor  or  weight  for  mooring  a  boat. 
Sometimes  a  stone. 

Killing,/),  a.  Overpowering;  irresistible;  generally  in  the  sense 
of  fascinating,  bewitching,  charming,  so  as  to  attract  and 
compel  admiration. 


Killing-time— Kinky.  209 

Killing-time,  ?i.  The  time  for  killing  hogs  just  before  Christ- 
mas. 

Kilne-house,  n.     A  house  for  baking  and  brewing. 

Kilt,  v.     Past  tense  of  kill. 

Kimbo,  adj.     Bent,  as  the  arms  when  set  akimbo. 

Kin,  n.      Race;  family;  breed;  kind.     Of  the  same  blood. 
Kind,  n.     Kind  of,  as  used  with  a  following  noun  to  express 

something   like   or  resembling:  as,  he   is   a    kind  of  fool. 

Kinder,  kind  of.      "  It  rained  and  he  got  kinder  wet." 

Kind,  adj.  Easy  to  work;  gentle;  easily  managed;  a  horse  is 
recommended  as,  "  A  good  saddle-horse,  and  kind  in  har- 
ness." 

Kind-hearted,  adj.  Having  much  kindness  of  nature;  also, 
proceeding  from  or  characterized  by  kindness  of  heart. 

Kindling-wood,  n.     Dry  wood  used  for  kindling  fires. 

Kindly,  adv.     Well:  as,  "  He  takes  kindly  to  his  business." 

Kind-spoken,  adj.     Characterized  by  kindly  speech. 

Kind-tempered,  adj.     Mild;  gentle. 

Kinfolks,  n.  pi  Relatives;  kindred;  persons  of  the  same 
family. 

Kings's  cruse,  n.  A  cry  to  stop  a  game;  or  a  fight;  enough! 
King's  truce?     Scruce. 

King's  evil,  n.  Scrofula.  It  used  to  be  cured  by  being  touched 
by  the  king. 

Kink,  n.  An  unreasonable  or  obstinate  notion;  a  crotchet;  a 
whim. 

Kink,  n.  A  knot-like  contraction  or  curl  in  a  thread,  cord,  or 
rope,  or  in  a  hair,  wire,  or  chain,  resulting  from  its  being 
twisted  or  doubled  on  itself."      "  One  great  kink." 

Kinky,  adj.      Full  of  kinks;  woolly. 

"<iSs.inky,  adj.     Crotchety;  eccentric.       "  His  head  is  always  full 
of  kinky  notions." 

14 


210  Kipper — Knee. 

Kipper,  v.  To  prepare  or  cure  as  salmon,  herrings,  etc.,  by 
cleansing  them  well,  giving  them  several  dry  rubbings  with 
pepper  and  salt,  and  then  drying  them,  either  in  the  open 
air,  or  by  smoke  of  peat  or  juniper  berries. 

Kiss,  v.  "  Kiss  my  foot."  An  expression  of  disapproval;  an 
indirect  way  of  denying  a  request.  "Will  you  give  me 
some  money  ?  "      "  Kiss  my  foot  ! ' ' 

Kisses,  n.  Small,  square  pieces  of  candy  made  of  boiled  sugar 
rolled  up  with  verses  in  a  piece  of  coloured  paper. 

Kit,  n.  A  small  tub,  pail,  box,  or  chest  containing  or  holding 
particular  commodities  or  articles:  as,  a  kit  of  mackerel;  a 
kit  of  tools. 

Kit,  n.  A  family;  a  brood;  the  whole  kit,  the  whole  lot  or  as- 
sembly; every  one:  used  with  reference  to  persons  in  con- 
tempt: as,  "I  defy  the  whole  kit  of  them."  "  The  whole 
kit  and  biling."      "  The  whole  kit  and  boodle." 

Kitchen-physic,  n.  Nourishing  diet  for  a  patient;  good  living; 
substantial  fare. 

Kith,  n.  One's  friends  or  relatives  collectively:  as,  "  Kith  and 
kin''  one's  own  people  and  kindred. 

Kitney,  n.     Form  of  kidney. 

Kitt,  n.  Kit.  A  small  violin,  with  three  strings.  Used  by 
dancing-masters,  as  it  could  be  carried  in  the  pocket. 

Kittle,  n.     A  form  of  kettle. 

Kitty,  n.     A  kitten;  a  child's  pet  name  for  a  cat. 

Kiver,  n.     A  form  of  cover. 

Knack,  n.  Readiness;  habitual  facility  of  performance;  dex- 
terity; adroitness.  "He  is  a  good  fisherman;  he  has  the 
knack  of  it. ' ' 

Knackers,  n.  pi.     Testicles.     Knockers. 

Knee,  n.  A  spur-like  process  on  the  roots  of  the  cypress,  by 
which  a  part  of  their  surface  is  kept  above  water. 


Knee-cap — Knock  off.  211 

Knee-cap,  ;/.      Knee-pan;  the  bone  in  front  of  the  knee-joint. 

Knee-deep,  adj.  Rising  to  the  knees:  as,  the  snow  lay  knee- 
deep. 

Knee-high,  adj.     As  high  as  the  knee. 

Knet,  v.     Past  tense  of  knit. 

Knick-knacks,  n.  pi.  Small  articles  of  curious  construction, 
such  as  toys,  carvings,  etc. 

Knife,  n.  It  is  unlucky  to  give  away  a  knife,  because  "knives 
cut  love." 

Knife-board,  n.  A  board  on  which  knives  are  cleaned  and 
polished. 

Knife-box,  n.     A  box  used  for  holding  table-knives. 

Knitting-needle,  n.  Straight,  slender  rods,  usually  of  steel, 
with  rounded  ends;  two  or  more  are  used  at  once  in  knit- 
ting. 

Knit,  v.  To  grow  together,  as  the  ends  of  a  broken  bone. 
"  The  bones  of  his  leg  didn't  knit  straight." 

Knittin-sheth,  n.  Sheath.  A  quill  sewed  in  a  piece  of  calico 
or  cloth  and  pinned  to  the  front  of  the  dress  to  rest  the  end 
of  one  needle  in  while  knitting. 

Knitting-work,  n.  A  piece  of  knitting,  with  needles,  ball  of 
yarn,  etc. 

Knock,  v.  To  knock  about,  to  subject  to  hard  or  rough  treat- 
ment. (2)  Knock  along,  to  get  on  moderately  well.  (3)  To 
knock  off,  to  stop;  put  an  end  to,  as  work.  (4)  To  knock 
about,  to  wander  here  and  there,  especially  in  a  rough, 
careless,  or  aimless  way;  to  saunter  about. 

Knock  down,  v.  In  the  sense  of  slaughter.  "  He  offered  to 
knock  down  a  steer  for  us." 

Knock  off,  v.  To  take  something  off  a  bill.  (2)  To  cease 
from  work.  (3)  To  discontinue  some  ordinary  practice:  as, 
"  He  knocks  off  drinking." 


212  Knock-kneed — Lady-killer. 

Knock-kneed,  adj.  Having  the  legs  curved  inward  so  that  the 
knees  touch  or  knock  together  in  walking. 

Knowing,/),  a.     Shrewd;  sharp;  smart. 

Knock  up,  v.  To  put  together  hastily:  as,  "To  knock  up  a 
box  to  put  the  apples  in."  (2)  To  gather  hurriedly:  as, 
"  knock  up  a  load  of  wood  as  you  come  in  at  night." 

Knowledgeable,  adj.  Knowing;  intelligent;  well-educated; 
able  to  be  instructed. 

Knowledge-box,  n.     The  skull. 

Knuckle,  v.  To  hold  the  knuckles  close  to  the  ground,  in  play- 
ing marbles;  usually  with  down.  A  player  is  required  to 
knuckle  down  in  order  to  keep  him  from  gaining  undue  ad- 
vantage by  "  pudging  "  nearer  the  mark. 

Knuckle  under,  v.  To  humiliate  one's  self;  to  take  the  second 
place. 

Knucks,  n.  A  boy's  game  played  with  marbles.  The  winner 
having  the  right  to  shoot  his  taw  so  many  times  at  the 
knuckles  of  the  loser. 

Kunner,  n.  Canoe.  A  dug-out  sailing  boat  with  two  sharp 
sails. 

Kyanne,  n.     Kyan.     Cayenne  pepper. 

L 

Lace,  v.     To  beat;  to  thrash. 

Lack,  v.  To  want;  to  stand  in  need  of;  to  be  in  want  of.  '  I 
can't  buy  the  land  because  I  lack  the  money." 

Lacken,/>.  p.  For  lackered.  ' '  Six  lackened  book  frames  for 
pictures,  well  burnished. 

Ladybug,  n.  The  name  of  a  small,  yellow  beetle  with  black 
spots. 

Lady-killer,  n.  A  man  supposed  to  be  dangerously  fascinating 
to  women;  a  real  or  pretended  lover;  one  whose  fascina- 
tions are  potent. 


Laff—  Landed.  213 

Laff,  ;/.     A  form  of  laugh. 

Lag,  n.  One,  or  that  which  comes  behind;  the  last  comer;  one 
who  hangs  back.  A  player  who  comes  in  last  at  a  game  of 
marbles. 

Lag,  v.  To  move  slowly;  fall  behind;  hang  back;  loiter;  lin- 
ger. 

Laid  by,  v.  A  crop  of  corn  was  "  laid  by"  when  all  the  work 
of  ploughing  and  hoeing  it  was  done. 

Laid  out,  v.  A  body  is  said  to  be  laid  out,  when  it  is  clad  in 
burial  garments  ready  to  be  put  into  the  coffin. 

Laig,  n.      For  leg. 

Lam,  v.     To  thrash;  beat. 

Lambaste,  v.     To  thrash;  beat. 

Lambasting,  ;/.     A  whipping;  beating. 

Lamb-black,  ;/.      For  lampblack. 

Lamb's  quarter,  n.  A  weed;  chenopodium  album;  used  as  a 
sallet  for  cooking  in  the  spring. 

Lame,  adj.  Now  applied  only  to  ailing  in  feet  and  legs;  was 
used  as  well  for  hands  and  arms.  "Lame  of  his  hands  and 
feet." 

Lanch,  v.  To  lance.  "I  had  a  big  gethering,  the  doctor 
lanched  it,  and  all  the  stuff  came  out. 

Land,  n.  A  strip  of  land  left  unbroken  in  a  ploughed  field; 
the  space  between  two  furrows.  A  division  in  ploughing. 
(2)  The  whole  land  making  a  farm.  "  I  gave  him  the  last 
meal  there  was  on  the  land. 

Land,  v.  To  come  to  land  or  shore;  touch  at  a  wharf  or  other 
landing  place;  to  arrive;  come  to  a  stop:  as,  "I  landed  at 
home." 

Landside,  n.  The  left  side  of  a  plough,  so  called  because  it 
goes  next  to  the  unturned  soil. 

Landed,  adj.  Having  possessions  in  land:  as,  a  landed  pro- 
prietor. 


214  Landing — Lareover. 

Landing,  ;/.  A  place  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  or  on  the  bank 
of  a  river  where  persons  land  or  come  on  shore,  or  where 
goods  are  set  on  shore. 

Landlocked,  adj.  Almost  shut  in  by  land  from  the  full  force 
of  the  wind  and  waves. 

Landloper,  n.  One  who  wanders  about  the  country.  Vaga- 
bond; vagrant. 

Land  of  nod,  v.     Sleep.      "  He  is  in  the  land  of  nod." 

Landowner,  n.     An  owner  or  proprietor  of  land. 

Land-poor,  n.  Poor  or  in  need  of  ready  money  while  owning 
or  holding  much  unremunerative  land;  especially,  poor  be- 
cause of  the  taxes  and  other  maintenance  charges  against 
such  land. 

Lane,  n.  The  road,  generally  between  two  fences  leading  from 
the  main  road  to  the  house. 

Lank,  adj.      M eagerly  slim;  lean;  gaunt. 

Lanky,  adj.  Somewhat  lank;  tending  to,  or  characteristic  of 
lankness  or  leanness. 

Lantern-jawed,  adj.       Having  lantern  jaws;  having  a  long, 

thin  face. 
Lantern-jaws,//./>/.      Long,  thin,  jawsor chops:  hence,  a  thin 

visage. 

Lap,  n.  The  front  part  of  a  skirt  of  a  garment;  that  part  of 
the  clothing  that  lies  loosely  on  the  thighs  and  knees  when 
a  person  sits  down;  especially,  that  part  of  the  clothing,  or 
an  apron,  as  used  to  contain  or  hold  something. 

Lap,  n.  That  part  of  the  body  covered  by  the  front  part  of  the 
skirts  of  one's  garments  or  by  an  apron,  especially  when  in 
a  sitting  posture. 

Lapsided,  adj.  One-sided;  leaning  more  to  one  side.  'That 
gate  is  not  straight,  it's  lapsided" 

Lareover,  ;/.  From  larva,  a  ghost,  spectre,  mask,  skeleton; 
used  to  frighten  children.      "  A  lareover  to  catch  meddlers." 


Large-hearted — Lather.  215 

When  children  are  over  inquisitive  as  to  the  meaning  or  use 
of  any  articles,  it  is  some  times  the  custom  to  rebuke  them 
by  saying  they  are  "  lareovers  for  meddlers." 

Large-hearted,  adj.  Having  a  large  heart  or  liberal  disposi- 
tion; sympathetic;  generous;  liberal;  magnanimous. 

Largen,  n.     To  make  large  or  larger;  enlarge;  increase. 

Lark,  n.  A  merry  or  hilarious  adventure;  a  jovial  prank  or 
frolic;  sport:  as,  "To  go  on  a  lark." 

Larn,  v.     To  learn;  to  teach.      "  It  will  larn  them  a  lesson." 

Laming,  n.     A  form  of  learning.     Book-learning. 

Larrans,  n.  Larence.  Lawrence,  patron  saint  of  idlers. 
When  the  summer  air  is  seen  vibrating  with  heat  it  is  called 
"larrans,"  and  the  lazy  feeling  of  that  time  is  said  to  be 
caused  by  "  '  lazy  larrans '  having  hold  of  you." 

Larrup,  v.     To  whip;  flog;  thrash. 

Larruping,  n.     A  thrashing. 

Larva,  n.  A  mask,  being  an  image,  "which  was  put  over  the 
face  to  frighten  children." 

Last,  n.  Power  of  holding  out;  endurance;  outlast.  "He  is 
very  sick  and  can't  last  'till  to-morrow." 

Lasting,  n.     A  strong  and  durable  woollen  or  worsted  fabric. 

Last  legs,  n.  pi.  A  person  is  said  to  be  on  his  last  legs  when 
near  death,  or  about  to  become  bankrupt. 

Latch,  n.  A  piece  of  wood  on  the  inside,  which  is  raised  by  a 
string  passed  through  a  hole  in  the  door.  On  the  latch,  not 
locked  but  fastened  only  by  a  latch. 

Latch-string,  ;/.  A  string  passed  through  a  hole  in  a  door  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  a  latch  on  the  inside.  "The  latch- 
string  is  out;  the  door  is  ready  to  be  opened;  "  an  expres- 
sion of  invitation  and  welcome. 

Lather,  n.      Laather.      Ladder. 

Lather,  v.     To  flog.     (2)  To  froth;  to  sweat. 


216  Latter— Lay  off. 

Latter,  adj.  A  later  or  second  brood  of  chickens  that  a  hen 
has.  "I  have  a  fine  lot  of  latter  chickens."  (2)  Corn 
planted  after  the  main  crop.  ' '  My  latter  corn  is  very  good 
this  year." 

Latterly,  adv.     Of  late;  lately;  at  a  late  or  recent  period. 

Laughing-stock,  ;/.  A  person  or  thing  that  is  an  object  of 
ridicule;  a  butt  for  laughter  or  jokes. 

Lavish,  adj.  Expending  or  bestowing  with  profusion;  profuse; 
prodigal. 

Lavish,  v.  To  expend  or  bestow  with  profusion;  give  or  lay 
out  prodigally. 

Lavish,  n.     Waste;  squandering. 

Lawn,  n.     A  large  yard  about  a  dwelling,  with  trees. 

Lawyer-man,  ;/.     A  lawyer. 

Lax,  n.      Diarrhoea. 

Lay,  v.  To  /ay  an  axe,  or  grubbing-hoe  is  to  weld  a  new  piece 
of  steel  into  the  body  of  the  old  axe  or  hoe  that  had  been 
worn  out. 

Lay,  v.  To  wager;  bet;  stake  money:  as,  "  I'll  lay  he'll  come 
tomorrow." 

Lay  about,  v.  An  idle  and  dissipated  man  is  said  to  lay  abotit. 
"  He  just  lays  about  and  does  nothing." 

Lay  by,  v.  To  finish  working  a  crop  of  corn;  after  all  the 
plowing  and  hoeing  was  done,  it  was  said:  "I'm  done 
working  my  corn,  it  is  ready  to  lay  by."  "I'm  laying  by 
my  corn." 

Lay  in,  v.  To  be  brought  to  childbed:  as,  "  She  will  lay  in  in 
about  two  months  from  now. ' ' 

Laylock.  n.     Lilac.     A  flower. 

Lay  off,  v.  To  intend  to  do  a  thing.  "  I  laid  off  to  go  to  town 
last  week  but  couldn't  get  there." 


Lay  out— Lef-hand-side.  217 

Lay  out,  v.  To  arrange;  to  plan.  "  I  laid  out  to  do  that  to- 
morrow." "  I  laid  off  to  do  it."  (2)  To  prepare  a  body 
for  burial. 

Laze,  v.  To  act,  move,  or  rest  idly  or  lazily;  be  lazy.  " Laz- 
ing all  the  day. ' '  , 

Lazy-bones,  n.     A  lazy  fellow;  an  idler. 

Leach-trough,  n.  A  trough  in  which  ashes  were  placed  to  be 
leached  with  water,  the  lye  caught  by  a  hole  in  the  bottom, 
for  making  soap. 

Lead,  n.  To  "  lead  steers  "  was  to  let  a  small  negro  boy  walk 
in  front  of  them  to  direct  their  course. 

Leader,  //.  A  sinew;  a  tendon.  Leaders,  n.  pi.  The  sinews 
of  a  limb. 

Leading-lines,  n.  The  small  rope  used  for  reins  for  driving 
horses  in  a  cart,  or  plough.      "  Lines." 

Leaf-fat,  n.  Fat  around  the  kidneys  of  a  hog,  and  on  the 
walls  of  the  belly. 

Leap,  n.  The  act  of  a  horse  covering  a  mare.  "  Five  dollars 
for  a  single  leap. ' ' 

Learn,  v.     To  teach.      "  A  school  to  learn  children  in." 

Leather-wing-bat,  //.  The  common  bat,  from  its  leathery 
wings. 

Leave,  v.     To  go  away;  depart. 

Leaving,  n.  Departure.  (2)  That  which  is  left;  a  remnant  or 
relic;  refuse.  Nearly  always  in  the  plural.  Leavings, 
especially  of  food. 

Leave  off,  v.     To  cease;  give  over;  leave  off  doing  something. 

Leben,  n.     For  eleven.      "  He  has  been  gone  leben  days." 

Led,  n.  A  lid;  the  lid  of  a  chest;  or  of  a  book.  "The  led  of 
the  kittle."      "The  kittle  led." 

Lef-hand-side,;/.  The  left  side.  "  The  lef-hand-side  of  the 
road." 


218  Lee-lurch — Lick. 

Lee-lurch,  n.  A  sudden  swaying  of  a  person  who  is  not  very 
steady  on  his  feet.  ' '  He  gave  a  lee-lurch  and  I  thought  he 
would  fall." 

Leetle,  n.     A  variant  of  little. 

Leeve,  adv.     Willingly;  a  word  of  indifference.      "  I'd  as  leeve 

go  as  stay. ' ' 
Leg,  n.     An  unmarried  woman  who  had  a  child  is  said  to  have 

' '  broken  her  leg. 

Leg-up,  v.  To  help  one  on  a  horse,  by  lifting  him  by  the  bent 
leg,  is  to  give  him  a  ' '  leg  up. 

Leg-wearied,  v.     Tired  from  long  walking. 

Lend,  v.     Always  used,  and  never  to  loan. 

Lengthy,  adj.  Having  length;  of  great  length,  with  the  idea 
of  tediousness  attached.      "  A  lengthy  sermon." 

Less,  v.      Let  us.      "  Less  go  to-morrow." 

Lessen,  ;/.  To  make  less;  diminish,  reduce  in  number,  size, 
degree,  or  quality. 

Let,  :■.  To  permit  or  allow  to  be  or  to  do,  either  actively  or 
passively;  grant  or  afford  liberty  to. 

Letter,  n.  A  spark  on  the  wick  of  a  burning  candle,  foretelling 
the  coming  of  a  letter. 

Let  out,  v.      "  School  lets  out  at  3  o'clock." 

Level,  ;/.       Well    balanced;  of  good  judgement:  as,  "a  level 

head.^ 
Level-headed,  adj.     Sensible;  shrewd. 
Levy,  n.     A  tax  raised  by  a  levy. 

Levy,  ;\  To  raise  money  publicly  by  a  poll  tax,  called  "  a  levy." 
To  levy  taxes. 

Liable,  adj.  Likely.  "  He  is  a  good  fellow  but  liable  to  get 
drunk. ' 

Lick,  ;/.  A  blow;  a  stroke.  "A  lick  and  a  promise:"  to  do  a 
piece  of  work  in  a  slovenly  fashion,  with  the  implied  pur- 
pose of  making  amends  later. 


Lick — Light-fingered.  219 

Lick,  n.  The  act  of  doing  a  thing  very  fast.  "Who  was  that 
playing  the  piano  at  such  a  lick. 

Lick,  v.  To  strike  repeatedly  by  way  of  punishment;  flog; 
chastise  with  blows;  beat. 

Lick  amiss,  n.  When  a  person  had  received  some  punishment 
thought  to  be  deserved,  it  was  said:  "  He  didn't  get  a  lick 
amiss,  unless  they  hit  at  him  and  missed  him." 

Lickety-split,  adv.      Headlong;  very  fast. 

Licking,  n.      A  beating;  a  thrashing. 

Lickwish,  ;/.      Liquorice. 

Lid,  n.  A  moveable  cover  which  closes  an  opening  by  being- 
attached  or  closely  fitted:  as,  the  lid  of  the  tea-kettle.  Also 
led.  One  of  the  covers  or  boards  of  a  book:  as,  the  lids  of 
the  Bible. 

Lie-abed,  n.     One  who  lies  long  in  bed  in  the  morning. 

Lie-down,  v.  To  go  to  bed.  "  I'm  very  tired,  I  think  I'll  go 
and  lie  down.' ' 

Lief,  adv.  Gladly;  willingly.  To  have  as  lief;  to  have  liefer. 
Leeve.      "  I'd  as  leeve  go  as  stay." 

Liever,  adv.     Rather.      "  I'd  liefer;  "  rather. 

Lift,  n.  Assistance;  a  helping-hand:  as,  to  give  one  a  lift.  A 
free  ride. 

Lift,  n.  That  which  is  lifted,  or  to  be  lifted.  A  weight  to  be 
raised,  as  a  heavy  lift.  (2)  On  the  lift.  Said  of  an  animal 
so  poor  and  weak  that  it  has  to  be  lifted  up  and  helped  to 
be  able  to  walk;  at  the  point  of  death. 

Light,  v.  To  get  down  off  a  horse.  "Light  down."  To 
light  from  flying  as  a  bird. 

Light-bread,  n.     Wheaten  bread  made  with  yeast. 

Lighter,  //.  An  open,  flat-bottomed  boat  used  for  loading  and 
unloading  vessels. 

Light-fingered,  adj.     Thievish;  addicted  to  petty  thefts. 


220  Light-headed — Limber-twig. 

Light-headed,  adj,  Disordered  in  the  head;  giddy  or  dizzy; 
hence  flighty;  delirious.  (2)  Thoughtless;  volatile;  frivo- 
lous.     "  Light-headed  and  talked  idly." 

Lightning-bug,  n.     A  firefly. 

Lights,  n.  pi.     The  lungs,  more  especially  of  brute  animals. 

Lights,  n.  The  openings  between  the  divisions  of  a  window; 
also  the  panes  of  glass  put  in  a  window:  as,  window- 
ligkts. 

Lightwood,  n.  Very  resinous  pine  wood.  Lightwood  km  it, 
a  knot  of  fat  pine  to  burn  brightly. 

Likeable,  adj.     Of  a  nature  to  attract  liking;  apt  to  be  liked. 

Like,  adj.  Having  resemblance;  similar  in  any  respect;  re- 
sembling. 

Like,  v.  To  feel  like,  to  have  an  inclination  for;  be  disposed 
to.      "  Like  to  sit  down." 

Likely,  adj.  Such  as  may  be  liked;  pleasing;  agreeable;  good 
looking;  promising.  "A  very  likely  dark  chestnut  sorrel 
horse."      Examiner,  1S05. 

Likely,  adv.      Probably;  as  may  reasonably  be  supposed. 

Liking,  ;/.  The  state  of  being  pleased  with  something;  favour; 
approval;  inclination;  pleasure:  as,  "He  took  a  liking  to 
the  place." 

Lim,  >i.     A  form  of  limb. 

Limb,  n.  A  mischievous  or  roguish  person,  especially  a  young 
person;  an  imp;  a  scamp;  a  scapegrace.  (2)  The  large 
branch  of  a  tree. 

Limb,  ;•.  To  tear  in  pieces;  to  tear  limb  from  limb.  "The 
1  logs  caught  the  old  hare  and  just  limbed  her." 

Limber,  adj.      Easily  bent;  flexible;   pliant:  yielding. 

Limber-twig,  //.  A  kind  of  apple  with  a  long  stem  that  hangs 
on  the  tree  till  frost. 


Linch-pin — Listed.  221 

Linch-pin,  n.  A  pin  put  in  the  spindle  of  the  axle  of  a  vehicle 
to  keep  the  wheel  from  slipping  off. 

Line,  v.     To  copulate;  said  of  dogs;  a  dog  lines  a  bitch. 

Line -fish,  n.  A  fish  that  is  taken  with  the  line;  opposed  to 
net-fish. 

Line-fishing,  n.  The  act  of  fishing  with  a  hook  and  line;  dis- 
tinguished from  net-fishing. 

Line  out,  v.  Line  out  a  hymn;  to  give  out  a  hymn  a  line  or 
two  at  a  time  to  the  singers. 

Lines,  n.  Loins.  "  I  got  such  a  pain  across  my  lines  that  I 
can  hardly  stand  up." 

Lines  between  neighbours.  Are  the  lines  marking  the  boun- 
daries between  adjoining  lands. 

Line-tree,  n.  Certain  trees  standing  on  the  boundaries  between 
tracts  of  lands  are  chopped  every  few  years,  and  kept  to 
mark  metes  and  bounds.  They  are  chopped  every  three 
years  by  "  possessionem,"  appointed  by  the  court. 

Link,  n.  One  of  the  divisions  of  a  sausage  made  in  a  contin- 
uous line. 

Linsey-woolsey,  n.     A  cloth  made  of  linen  warp  and  woollen 

web. 
Lip,  n.      Impudent  or  abusive  talk. 

Liquor,  n.  An  alchoholic  or  spiritous  liquor;  an  intoxicating 
beverage;  especially,  a  spiritous  or  distilled  drink.  In  liq- 
uor: drunk. 

Liquorish,  n.     A  form  of  liquorice. 

List,  n.     A  careening  or  leaning  to  one  side,  as  a  boat. 

List,  n.  A  ridge  of  earth  thrown  up  by  a  plough,  as  in  culti- 
vating corn. 

List,  n.  The  selvedge  edge  of  flannel  or  of  woollen  cloth.  A 
stripe  of  any  kind,  or  streak. 

Listed,  adj.  Encircled  by  a  list.  A  " listed '-sow,"  a  sow  with 
a  white  list  around  her  black  body,  or  the  reverse. 


222  Listen — Liver-pin. 

Listen  at,  v.  To  listen;  hear.  "Listen  at  the  sound  of  the 
rain  on  the  roof." 

Listing,  v.     The  throwing  up  of  the  soil  into  ridges. 

Lit,  v.  Past  tense  of  light:  he  fell  and  lit  on  his  head.  (2) 
"  The  candles  were  lit  at  7  o'clock." 

Litchet,  n.     Child's  name  for  Richard. 

Litter,  n.  A  birth  or  bringing  forth  of  more  than  one  young 
animal  at  a  time,  as  of  pigs,  kittens,  puppies.  (2)  A  number 
of  young  animals  brought  forth  at  one  birth,  used  with  ref- 
erence to  mammals  which  regularly  give  birth  to  more  than 
one  young  at  once. 

Litter,  n.  Waste  matter  as  shreds;  fragments,  or  the  like  scat- 
tered about,  as  on  a  floor;  scattered  rubbish;  things  strewn 
about  in  a  careless  or  slovenly  manner. 

Litter,  n.  Manure  made  by  cattle  or  horses;  droppings. 
Stable-litter.  Loose  straw  or  anything  thrown  into  a  farm- 
yard for  cattle  to  lie  on  and  tread  into  manure. 

Litter,  v.  To  scatter  things  over  or  about  in  a  careless  or 
slovenly  manner.  (2)  To  bring  forth  a  litter  of  young 
animals. 

Little  bit,  n.  A  small  quantity  of  anything:  as,  "  a  little  bit  of 
puddin." 

Little-house,  ;/.     An  out-door  privy. 

Livelihood,  n.  Way  of  life;  living;  means  of  maintaining 
life;  maintenance;  support  of  life;  the  occupation  which 
furnishes  means  of  support. 

Livelong,  adj.  Continuing  or  seeming  to  continue  long;  pass- 
ing slowly;  tedious:  as,  the  livelong  night.  "I  waited  for 
him  the  livelong  day;  "  that  is,  all  day  long. 

Liver-pin,  n.  A  figurative  term  to  express  the  centre  or  most 
important  part  of  the  liver.  A  part  not  clearly  located,  but 
a  special  and  vital  part  of  the  anatomy.  "  Damn  his  liver- 
pin  ." 


Livery-cupboard — Lockram.  223 

Livery-cupboard,  n.  A  stand  with  two  or  three  shelves  used 
in  the  dining-room,  on  which  the  liveries,  food  and  drink, 
intended  for  distribution  were  placed.     (2)  Wardrobe. 

Load,  11.  A  large  quantity  of  anything.  "  Loads  of  people." 
"  Loads  of  money." 

Load,  n.  The  quantity  of  powder  and  shot  put  in  a  gun  at  one 
time. 

Loaden,  v.  To  load.  Past  tense  also,  as:  "  loaden  with 
corne." 

Loadened,  v.     Loaded.      "  A  loadened  gun." 

Loaf,  v.  To  idle  away  one's  time;  lounge;  davdle;  stroll  idly 
and  without  purpose.  To  pass  or  spend  time  in  idleness; 
spend  lazily;  to  wander  about  idly. 

Loafer,  n.  An  idle  man,  lounger  or  aimless  stroller;  one  who 
is  too  lazy  to  work  or  pursue  regular  business. 

Loaf-sugar,  n.  Sugar  refined  and  moulded  into  a  conical  mass, 
broken  into  small  pieces  when  wanted. 

Loan,  v.     For  to  lend  not  used. 

Lobcock,  n.     Logcock,  a  large  woodpecker. 

Loblolly-stick,  ;/.     A  stick  used  for  stirring  loblolly  or  gruel. 

Locate,  v.  To  fix  the  place  or  limits;  fix  one's  residence;  de- 
termine one's  residence.  "At  first  we  didn't  know  where 
he  was  but  finally  located  him." 

Lock,  n.  The  corner  made  by  joining  two  pannels  of  worm 
fence.  "In  the  lock  of  the  fence."  An  evil-doer  was 
threatened  to  have  his  "head  put  under  the  lock  of  the 
fence."  (2)  A  small  lot  separate  from  the  rest:  as,  a  lock 
of  hair;  lock  of  wool. 

Locker,  ;/.     A  small  cupboard. 

Lock-out,  n.  The  exclusion  of  a  teacher  by  his  scholars  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  holidays.     Also,  turn  out. 

Lockram,  n.  Lockrum.  A  kind  of  unbleached  linen  so  called 
from  the  place  where  it  was  made,  Loore?ia?i,  in  Brittany. 


224  Locusses — Long-hundred. 

Locusses,  ;/.  pi.     Locust  trees.      "  A  fine  row  of  locusses." 

Lodge,  v.  To  be  fast  without  moving.  "  He  threw  the  stick 
up  the  apple  tree  where  it  lodged." 

Loft,  adj.     Unwilling.      "  He  was  very  loft  to  do  it." 

Loft,  ;/.  A  room  in  the  upper  part  of  a  house,  occupying  the 
whole  house.      ' '  Bum-loft;  "  "  Hay-loft. ' ' 

Logger-head,  //.  At  loggerheads,  engaged  in  bickerings  or 
disputes. 

Logy,  adj.      Heavy;  slow;  stupid. 

Loll,  v.  To  lie  or  lean  at  ease;  recline  or  lean  idly  or  in  a  care- 
less or  languid  attitude.  To  allow  to  hang  out,  as  the 
tongue. 

Lollop,  v.  To  loll  or  lounge  idly;  move  heavily  or  be  tossed 
about. 

Lone-woman,  n.     A  widow;  left  alone. 

Lonesome,  adj.  Dejected  for  want  of  company.  Secluded; 
unfrequented;  lonely:  as,  a  lonesome  road.  Far  from  neigh- 
bours. 

Long,  adj.  Great.  "A  hundred  dollars  is  a  long  price  for  that 
horse." 

Long,  v.     To  belong.      "  It  longs  to  me." 

Long,  v.  To  have  longing  or  wistfull  desire;  feel  a  strong  wish 
or  craving;  hanker.      To  long  for;  desire. 

Longbow,  ;/.  To  draw  the  longboiv,  to  exaggerate;  tell  im- 
probable stories. 

Long-coats,?/,  pi.      Long  clothes;  said  of  an  infant's  wear. 

Long-corn,  //.  The  longest  and  best  ears  of  corn,  used  for 
bread  corn. 

Long-headed,  adj.  Shrewd;  far-seeing;  discerning;  as,  a 
long-headed  man. 

Long-hundred,  ;/.     One  hundred  and  twenty. 


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j.jOV  <Tii33NV-SOV^        %MAINfl-3V^ 


\q. 


